Musical manners BASIL RAMSEY listens to Robert King's performances of Johann Schelle Hyperion    CDA67260

Arising out of a period prior to Bach's tenure at St Thomas, Leipzig, Johann Schelle can now be musically categorised as a composer of a markedly simpler style, yet his music is thoughtful and graceful to the ear. J S Bach was much less kind about his predecessor, so survival of Schelle's music is fortunate indeed [listen -- track 6, 0:00-1:05].

Robert King has devised a programme of cantatas, which, in one sense betrays some similarity of thematic material, yet there's a freshness that 'lifts' the music and our thoughts dwell on the merits. This group of musicmakers invariably convinces of their general enthusiasm for the music they project. To have introduced Schelle to the world is not a triumph, more a welcome to a minor master with gracious musical manners.

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