CCMusic.com

Only slowly is the German-Dutch composer and virtuoso Johann Wilhelm Wilms coming back into the public consciousness and his chamber music as well as symphonic works are being played again. Born in the Bergisches Land, he must have been a great musical talent, for he received instruction only in the village environment, then moved to Amsterdam at the age of 19, where he quickly made a name for himself as a flutist and piano virtuoso. His works were printed and he achieved great renown even beyond the Netherlands. But just as he had begun to shine, his star also sank again. After several strokes of fate, he withdrew from musical life in 1820 and composed very little. Harmonie Universelle presents Willms' Clarinet Concerto (composed around 1815) and two concertante symphonies from 1814 as first recordings. Willms knew and revered the works of Haydn, Mozart and early Beethoven, which clearly influenced his style. His compositions are excellently crafted and definitely reveal his own spirit and great musicality. Harmonie Universelle has thus succeeded in taking an important step towards bringing this wonderful music back into the public eye.