Album

Insofar as it can be said to have one, the purpose of this disc is to make the name Anton Diabelli mean more than merely the fellow who had the foresight to get Schubert's publishing rights and who once hired Beethoven to write a set of variations on his own innocuous waltz theme. For those willing to venture into nearly unknown repertoire, this disc will give new meaning to Diabelli's name; to wit, Diabelli was, in addition to being a canny publisher, a canny composer—the works on this disc are ideally aimed at the burgeoning market in domestic music-making in early nineteenth century Europe and were fabulously successful in their time. Performed here by an ensemble called the Salzburger Hofmusik—the name is taken from the prince-archbishops chapel in Salzburg—Diabelli's music proves to be full of catchy tunes and infectious rhythms with the added advantage of being easy enough for amateurs to play. The pieces on this disc are scored for one or two pianos (Hammerflügels in this case), guitar, or for some combination of all three, and they are mostly light and cheerful—the delightful opening Rondo militaire or the lovely little Romanze—and occasionally dramatic and baleful—the grim Trauermarsch auf den Todt des Herrn Michael Haydn or the impressive Grande Sonate Brilliante in D minor that gives the disc its title. Although the music makes no strenuous demands on them, the musicians perform with commitment and aplomb. While Diabelli's music may not lower the prime interest rate, it will amuse listeners who are looking for something from early nineteenth century Europe that won't put any demands on their concentration. Profil's sound is clean, but a bit close and a little flat.

© James Leonard, All Music Guide

CD 1
Anton Diabelli Composer Rondo Militaire Work Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Leonore von Stauss Hammerflugel, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
1	Rondo Militaire	3:16			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Piano Sonatina in G, Op.151, No.1 Work Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Klaus Jäckle Guitar, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
2	Scherzo. Allegro	0:55			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Sonatina in A for Guitar and Piano, Op.68 Work 5:17 Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Klaus Jäckle Guitar, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
3	1.Andante sostenuto	2:59			$0.99
4	2.Rondo. Allegro ma non troppo	2:18			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Romanze, for chamber ensemble Work Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Leonore von Stauss Hammerflugel, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
5	Andantino, quasi Adagio	2:18			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Piano Sonatina in D-, Op.163, No.6 ('Jugendfreuden) Work 6:38 Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Leonore von Stauss Hammerflugel, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
6	1.Allegro con fuoco	2:51			$0.99
7	2.Andantino	1:44			$0.99
8	3.Rondo. Allegro	2:03			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Pieces for Guitar and Hammerflügel, Op.10 Work 5:28 Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Klaus Jäckle Guitar, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
9	1.Allegro in C	1:16			$0.99
10	2.Andante con espressione in G	3:02			$0.99
11	3.Allegro scherzando in C	1:10			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Grande sonata Brillante in D, for guitar and piano, Op.102 Work 14:43 Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Klaus Jäckle Guitar, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
12	1.Adagio. Allegro	8:13			$1.49
13	2.Adagio	2:25			$0.99
14	3.Allegro	4:05			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Trauermarsch auf den Todt des Herrn Michael Haydn in D-, Op.20 Work Wolfgang Brunner Conductor, Klaus Jäckle Guitar, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
15	Trauermarsch auf den Todt des Herrn Michael Haydn in D-, Op.20	5:16			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Guitar Sonata, Op.29, No.1 Work 13:47 Wolfgang Brunner Conductor, Klaus Jäckle Guitar, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
16	1.Allegro	4:10			$0.99
17	2.Andante cantabile	3:23			$0.99
18	3.Menuett	2:19			$0.99
19	4.Rondo. Allegretto	3:55			$0.99
Anton Diabelli Composer Waltz (Theme for the Variations) Work 1:39 Wolfgang Brunner Hammerflugel, Salzburger Hofmusik Ensemble
20	1.Vivace	1:07			$0.99
21	2.Vivace	0:32			$0.99