INTERNATIONAL FASCH SOCIETY   V o l u me   5 ,   N o .   1   ( O c t o b e r   2 0 0 1 )   I n   t h i s   i s s u e     Feature article Concert line-up for the 2001/2002 season Looking back "General meeting of the IFG and Fasch-Geselligkeit" THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL FASCH FESTIVAL       IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE FROM 3 TO 13 APRIL 2003 New editions Research Corner New editions of works by J. F. Fasch Fasch in Switzerland Did you know...?

	Feature article
	Dear Fasch friends from far and near, In this latest issue of our newsletter we again provide you with information and news about J. F. and C. F. Ch. Fasch. We take a look back at yet another Fasch Festival, the Seventh to be exact, and we do this with a certain kind of pride. "J. F. Fasch and his influence on court orchestras outside of Zerbst" was the motto of the festival. All of the concerts were imbued with high artistic quality and balanced programmes which was also reflected in the excellent ticket sales prior to the festival. Except for the concert in Köthen all other events were sold out - a nice end result which, needless to say, will set new standards for the upcoming Fasch Festival. The Fasch Kuratorium (Executive Committee), which will meet early next year, has already received numerous applications from German, Italian, French, Hungarian, Israeli and Swiss ensembles to date. The two-day scholarly conference shed light on many new and interesting aspects. You, dear members and friends, may read about them in a conference report to be published at the end of the year. At this time we would like to thank all those involved, for their commitment - in addition to the many helpers from our own ranks we would like to extend our gratitude in particular to the city of Zerbst as the main sponsor and co-host, as well as to the state of Saxony-Anhalt and the numerous sponsors whose financial support made the Fasch Festival possible. You will find a summary of the highlights of the 7th International Fasch Festival and read about the recipient of the Fasch prize 2001, Ludwig Güttler, on the next few pages. We will also inform you about important upcoming dates and share with you the "motto" that has been chosen for the Eighth International Fasch Festival 2003. If you have not had the opportunity to familiarize yourself with 1999 Fasch Conference Report on "Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch (1736-1800) and contemporary musical life in Berlin" we would like to refer you to Wolfgang Hirschmann`s review, see "Concerto", issue 164, June 2001. Furthermore, we would like to draw your attention to the following events: the annual Christmas Fasch concert on 5 December 2001, the closing concert on the occasion of the 37th Cultural Festival of the City of Zerbst and our next general meeting on 23 March which is followed by a "Fasch-Geselligkeit" (reception). Enjoy this newsletter and attending the concerts! Sincerely, Your IFG staff and executive

	CONCERT LINE-UP FOR THE 2001/2002 SEASON
	ZERBST: Wednesday, 5 December 2001, 8 p.m., St. Bartholomew's Church, Zerbst Commemorative concert on the occasion of the 243rd anniversary of the Anhalt-Zerbst Kapellmeister Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758). It will feature the chamber choir of the Johann Friedrich Reichardt University Choir and the Academic Orchestra of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, conducted by Jens Lorenz. In addition premiering the cantata "Kündlich gross ist das gottseelige Geheimnis" by J. F. Fasch (the performance edition was prepared by Dr. Konstanze Musketa), the ensembles will perform a cantata from the Christmas Oratorio by J. S. Bach and seasonal a capella music. We gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by the county of Anhalt-Zerbst and the city of Zerbst as well as local sponsors. Sunday, 17 March 2002, 4:30 p.m., Fasch-Saal, Stadthalle Zerbst Closing concert on the occasion of the 37th Cultural Festival of the City of Zerbst, featuring Prof. Christian Elsas. He will be performing an evening of piano music to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Beethoven`s death. HALLE: Sunday, 10 February 2002, 4 p.m., Freylinghausensaal, Franckesche Stiftungen, Halle As part of the concert series "Baroque in the afternoon" the Philharmonische Staatsorchester Halle - under the baton of the Israeli conductor Shalev Ad-El - will perform a concert featuring works by Johann Friedrich Fasch.

	Looking back
	7. Internationale Fasch-Festtage 2001 The city of Zerbst honoured its famous composer Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758) from 19 to 29 April 2001 Fasch Prize 2001 was awarded to Ludwig Güttler The Seventh International Fasch-Festival 2001, for which the Minister for Cultural Affairs of the State of Saxony-Anhalt, Dr. Gerd Harms, served as patron, boasted a novel concept. The musical events had been expanded both in quantity and in terms of venue. Concerts were held in the palaces of Köthen, Wendgräben, Leitzkau and Dessau (Georgium) in addition to using the Stadthalle and St. Bartholomew's Church, Zerbst. The length of the festival also had been extended from four to eleven days in order to provide music lovers with the opportunity to attend all scheduled events. The far-reaching influence of the activity and creativity of Johann Friedrich Fasch in the context of musical life at various residences outside of Zerbst - the topic of the scholarly conference - was also reflected in the concert programs of the Seventh International Fasch Festival. The MDR Kultur (the Central German Radio and Television dedicated to cultural events) again served as the media partner of the International Fasch Festival. They promoted the Festival by broadcasting reports and interviews which dealt with J. F. Fasch and new research findings, prior and during the festival. A concert performed by the Capella Savaria Ensemble from Hungary on 28 April in the Spiegelsaal at the Köthen Palace was recorded for broadcast. Students from the Institute for Music Education, Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, provided music for the festive opening ceremony of the Seventh International Fasch Festival at the Fasch-Saal on 19 April. In turn, students majoring in early music at the Hochschule for Music, "Felix Mendelssohn Bartholdy", Leipzig, opened each of the conference days with a short concert, performing music by J. F. Fasch and his contemporaries. At the opening concert at St. Bartholomew's Church the audience showed their great appreciation for the performers when Jens Lorenz conducted the chamber choir of the University Choir "Johann Friedrich Reichardt" of the Martin Luther University Halle-Wittenberg and four soloists. They offered a diverse program of sacred works by D. Cimarosa, J. D. Heinichen and J. F. Fasch (Missa in D Major, concerto in D Major for trumpets, solo violin, oboes, strings, and timpani). On the following day the Freiburger Barockorchester Consort (soloist: Daniela Helm, violin) presented an exclusive musical treat at the Fasch-Saal. They performed "festive court music" which featured works by G. Ph. Telemann and J. F. Fasch and thrilled the audience greatly. The Italian ensemble "Zefiro" enchanted its listeners at the Leitzkau Palace on 21 April. They played several virtuosic sonatas by J. F. Fasch, J. D. Heinichen, A. Lotti, J. A. Hasse and J. D. Zelenka. Proving to be a true gift to both experts and lovers of Baroque chamber music, the audience honoured them with standing ovations. On Sunday morning the Zerbst Kantorei and the Johann Friedrich Fasch Ensemble Halle were led by Tobias Eger in a performance of compositions by the Anhalt-Zerbst Kapellmeister. During a festive worship service they premiered his church cantata "Gott ist die Liebe" (edited by Uta Wald) and thus provided valuable insight into Zerbst performance practice of the eighteenth century. Those fancying music for the lute were awarded on Sunday afternoon, enjoying the beautiful ambience of Wendgräben Palace. In addition to performing the only surviving concerto for lute by Fasch, the Chursächsische Capelle Leipzig and lutenist Joachim Held presented works that ranged from the late Baroque period to the Empfindsamkeit. Many had hitherto been gathering dust in archives. The Hamburger Ratsmusik ensemble presented another special treat at the Georgium Palace Dessau on 27 April. They had selected a program which reflected the theme "Johann Friedrich Fasch at residences outside of Zerbst - stations of his trips to Weißenfels, Leipzig, Prague, Darmstadt, and Dresden" and performed little-known works by composers who had been active in these cities.The concert presented by the Hungarian Ensemble Capella Savaria under the baton of Mary Terey-Smith at the Spiegelsaal of the Köthen Palace on 28 April, also offered a very attractive selection of pieces. The members of the ensemble impressed with their lyrical and virtuosic interpretation of vocal and instrumental works by J. F. Fasch and G. P. Telemann. The unequivocal climax of the eleven-day, Seventh International Fasch Festival 2001 was, however, the closing concert at the Großer Saal of the Stadthalle in Zerbst on 29 April. It featured the legendary trumpeter Ludwig Güttler and his ensemble Virtuosi Saxoniae. They had selected a brilliant and well thought-out mixture of works by the four great masters of the Baroque - J. S. Bach, G. F. Handel, G. P. Telemann and J. F. Fasch. The ensemble premiered Fasch's overture suite in D Major for three trumpets and timpani, two horns, two oboes, bassoon and strings (edited by Michael Pacholke), much to the delight of the audience. After the concert the mayor of the city of Zerbst, Helmut Behrendt, and the president of the IFG, Dr. Konstanze Musketa, awarded the Fasch Prize of the city of Zerbst 2001 (in the amount of 5000 DM) to the renowned trumpeter Güttler. They honoured his outstanding achievements with regard to promoting the works of Fasch as part of his national and international performance career and recordings. Ludwig Güttler extended his gratitude and entered his name into the Ehrenbuch of the city of Zerbst. Several days later members of the IFG executive and representatives of the city of Zerbst met at Wendgräben Palace to evaluate the Festival. The Chairperson of the Department for Social Affairs of the city of Zerbst, Heinz Westphal, confirmed that the 2001 Festival had been a success. The new concept - expanding the Festival in length to include two weekends and utilizing new performance venues in near-by cities - had paid off and produced events of high quality in attractive venues. It would be important to maintain this high standard in the future and try to avoid expectations. Preparations for the next festival have already begun and promise many musical treats of the highest quality.

	General meeting of the IFG and "Fasch-Geselligkeit"
	Out next general meeting is scheduled for Saturday, 23 March, 2002, 7 p.m. at the Saal, Hotel "von Rephuns Garten", reception to follow. We hope that many members will be able to attend. "Johann Friedrich Fasch (1688-1758) and his influence on court orchestras outside of Zerbst" International Scholarly Conference on the occasion of the Seventh International Fasch Festival in Zerbst on 20 and 21 April 2001 This year`s International Scholarly Conference offered new findings on the life and works of the Anhalt-Zerbst Kapellmeister Johann Friedrich Fasch to both expert and amateur scholars. A theologian and nine musicologists from Germany, Australia and Canada presented the fruits of their research in three sessions. They addressed the current state of research with regard to surviving Fasch autographs and manuscripts and shared new biographical findings. A brief musical concert by students majoring in early music at the Hochschule for Music and Theatre AFelix Mendelssohn Bartholdy@ in Leipzig - Marcel Plavec (Oboe), Marta Neumanova (Oboe), Juraj Korec (bassoon), Krystof Lada (bassoon) and Cornelia Osterwald (harpsichord) - preceded the morning session of each conference day. Their interpretation of sonatas by J. F. Fasch, J. S. Bach and G. F. Handel was well received by the audience. Following brief welcome speeches by the mayor of the city of Zerbst, Helmuth Behrendt, and the president of the IFG, Dr. Konstanze Musketa, Prof. Dr. Manfred Fechner (Jena/Dresden) delivered a key note address on the "Dresden treatment" of Fasch`s compositions. In the eighteenth century and still today, one at times encounters works that were revised by other composers, in Fasch's case by J. G. Pisendel, a friend from his Leipzig university days. Dr. Janice Stockigt, Australia, shed light on Fasch`s Dresden sabbatical in 1727, examining speficially his psalm settings and reporting on the musical-liturgical holidays and special events which took place during Fasch's stay. Stephan Blaut, Halle/Leipzig, presented an overview of Fasch`s surviving manuscripts of overture suites at the Saxonian Provincial, State and University Library Dresden. By way of an examination of watermarks and the handwritings of copyists, Blaut was able to piece together an almost complete chronology of dates of composition for the overture suites which Fasch had sent to Dresden over the course of 30 years. The theologian Thilo Daniel, Weistropp, shed light on Fasch`s Pietist attitude from a theological point of view, analyzing the correspondence of Fasch and Nikolaus Count of Zinzendorf. Elena Sawtschenko, Moskau (Russland)/Leipzig/Tübingen) reported on hitherto-unknown letters of Fasch to A. H. Francke and J. H. Callenberg in the Archive of the Frankesche Stiftungen in Halle and explained their significance for Fasch research. At the end of the first conference day Wolfgang Eckhardt, Dresden, surprised the participants with a hitherto-unknown letter dated 28 March 1711, in which the young Fasch applied for the vacant position of Kantor at St. Jacobi in Chemnitz. Dr. Undine Wagner, Chemnitz, opened the second conference day by providing valuable information on Fasch`s activities in Prague as well as the only surviving Prague source of a Fasch work and musical life in Prague in general, c. 1720-1750. Dr. Ursula Kramer, Mainz, focused on holdings of works by Fasch at the Hessian State- and University Library Darmstadt. She tried to trace when, how and why these compositions could have found their way to Darmstadt. Ralph-Jürgen Reipsch, Magdeburg, critically examined primary source material in order to answer the question of whether "Willkomm du Licht", an anonymous cantata archived at Darmstadt, could have been composed by Fasch or Telemann. Dr. Barbara Reul, Victoria (Canada), addressed the provenance, performance context and structural plans of the two sacred vocal works by Fasch which are held at Darmstadt, both of them birthday cantatas for Duchess Hedwig Friederike of Anhalt-Zerbst. All papers will be published as a part of a Conference Report (volume 8 of the Fasch Studies) which is scheduled to appear in print late 2001.

	THE EIGHTH INTERNATIONAL FASCH FESTIVAL IS SCHEDULED TO TAKE PLACE FROM 3 TO 13 APRIL 2003
	"Johann Friedrich Fasch and the Italian Style" - International Scholarly Conference on the occasion of the 8th International Fasch Festival 2003 The above "motto" - which will also be reflected in the concert programs and conference topic - was chosen in order to shed light on the influence of music of Italian masters on the oeuvre of Johann Friedrich Fasch. As a composer he employed Italian style elements primarily in his concertos and sinfonias but he also used them in other genres. Many of his contemporaries who were active all over Europe, showed interest in the Italian "taste" and ulitized its characteristic elements to varying degrees. Therefore, it is not surprising that a multitude of Italian music was performed at the Court of Zerbst where J. F. Fasch was active from 1722 to 1758, cf. the great number of works by Italian composers listed in the catalogue of the Zerbst "Concert-Stube" from 1743. We would be delighted if scholars from far and near - especially from outside Germany - expressed interest in participating in the conference. Please submit an abstract of 150 words to the IFG Administrative Office. Our resident musicologist, Frau Susanne Schuster, will be pleased to provide you with additional information. Tel: (+49) 3923-610 121, Mo-Thu 9:30-3 p.m.

	New editions
	Johann Friedrich Fasch - Concertos for Large Orchestral Ensembles Ed. by Manfred Fechner. Part of the series "Denkmäler Mitteldeutscher Barockmusik", ed. by the Ständige Konferenz Mitteldeutscher Barockmusik in Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, Series II, vol. 4, published by Friedrich Hofmeister Verlag, Leipzig, 2000.

	Research Corner
	"Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch and contemporary musical life in Berlin" International Scholarly Conference, Zerbst, 16 and 17 April 1999 (Conference Report, published by Anhaltische Verlagsgesellschaft 1999, Dessau, Fasch Studies vol. 7) Wolfgang Hirschmann - well-known to readers familiar with CONCERTO, the renowned German journal for early music - reviewed the 1999 Conference Report "Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch (1736-1800) and contemporary musical life in Berlin" in issue no. 164 of CONCERTO, June 2001, pp. 11-12. Showing off his considerable expertise and background knowledge Hirschmann praises - in a refreshingly natural manner - the very carefully edited and attractively laid-out Conference Report. He points out that this volume presents original research on the musical history of Berlin of the eighteenth century which to date has been more or less neglected. Hirschmann emphasizes especially the great significance of Carl Friedrich Christian Fasch as the key figure of Berlin`s musical life during the second half of the eighteenth century. He also notes Fasch's founding of the Berlin Singakademie in 1791 which revolutionized choral singing and public concert life. Hirschmann concludes that on the whole this conference report - which includes numerous primary source documents - presents an exceedingly valuable monograph. He also praises the large appendix which includes a chronology, bibliography and list of primary sources as well as an annotated Fasch bibliography and various indeces which facilitate detailed searches. Hirschmann closes by saying "highly recommended". We would like to thank Dr. Wolfgang Hirschmann very much for his honest and encouraging review!

	New editions of works by J. F. Fasch
	Financial support from the state of Saxony-Anhalt, the county of Anhalt-Zerbst and the city of Zerbst made it possible for scholars to prepare new performance editions of several works by J. F. Fasch: the overture suite in A Major for solo violin, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, strings and Basso continuo (B.c.; edition prepared by Stephan Blaut), the concerto in G Major for solo violin, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings and B.c. (prepared by Brian Clark), the cantata "Er hat große Dinge an mir getan" for SATB (soloists and chorus), 2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings and B.c. (prepared by Uta Wald) and the cantata "Die da das Land des Lichts bewohnen" for SATB, 2 horns, 2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings and B.c. (prepared by Rainer Heyink). The performance editions were critically evaluated by musicologist Dr. Undine Wagner, Chemnitz.

	Fasch in Switzerland
	On 22 and 24 April and on 24 June 2001 Fasch's Mass in D Major for SATB (chorus and soloists) and orchestra (FWV G: D2) was premiered at the Stadtkirche Frauenfeld, the Holzkirche Luzern and the Klosterkirche Rheinau, Switzerland (!), respectively. Walter Nater had arranged Fasch's mass for these concerts and directed the vocal and instrumental ensemble RESPIRO. They were joined by soloists Simone Vetman (soprano), Petra von Felbert (contralto), Walter Kirchmeier (tenor) and Alfred Kesseli (bass).

	Did you know...?
	.... that the IFG has 115 members to date and that Fasch`s music is becoming increasingly more popular? .... that the IFG - upon the request of the Katharina Society Zerbst - will participate in an exhibition at the Russia House in Berlin from 7 December 2001 to 7 January 2002, providing material on the lives and works of J. F. and C. F. Ch. Fasch? .... that Stephan Blaut, Leipzig/Halle, is currently preparing a substantial article on Fasch for the most comprehensive German music encyclopedia "Die Musikgeschichte in Geschichte und Gegenwart" (MGG)? .... that a "make work" measure supported by the Office for Unemployment Dessau will make it possible "to document the activities of the IFG in a chronicle " ? You are welcome to familiarize yourself with part 1 of the chronicle at the Administrative Office in early 2002. .... that the IFG is planning to organize a trip to Vienna in early May (around the Feast Day of Corpus Christi) 2002? .... that one of our sponsors, the optometrist Herr Rudolf Preuss, Zerbst, made the following offer to the IFG: "at the end of the year I will donate to the IFG five percent of the total amount of money spent at my store by members to the IFG. Members need only show their valid membership card when making a purchase." We would like to thank Herr Preuss very much for his kind offer and initiative! .... that Brian Clark, Dundee (GB), maintains his own website on Baroque music, see www.geocities.com/dun69ders Highly recommended!

Editor: International Fasch Society, Administrative Office: Breitestein 74 A, Wiekhaus, D-39261 Zerbst mailing address: PSF 11 13, D-39251 Zerbst Tel/Fax (+49)3923-784772 or -610121 Editor-in-chief and lay-out: Susanne Schuster Translation: Dr. Barbara Reul, University of Regina, Canada Web layout: Atelier TANGRAM and Anwenderverein allegro Zerbst (BRISE) Copyright IFG 01/2000