Michael Nyman: Playgrounds – Stefan Temmingh

What is known elsewhere as a passacaglia, chaconne or canon was called a ‘ground’ in Baroque-era England: a sequence of bass notes or harmonies that is constantly repeated throughout a piece and played in variations by the various instruments – in other words, a carousel of chords. Within this playground of ‘grounds’, the musicians are free to improvise, subject to a few rules: the harmonies are their playground, and how the musicians bring them to life is entirely up to their creativity: as an ensemble or individually, slowly or quickly, intimately or with great virtuosity. Making music together could not be more inspiring. With this recording, recorder player Stefan Temmingh makes his debut on the Glossa label. He is accompanied by the Cologne-based ensemble Nuovo Aspetto. Each of the musicians is among the finest on their instrument: psaltery, harp, lute, guitar, cello, bassoon, harpsichord – there are no limits to the range of timbres in this large continuo ensemble!