Die Vier Tageszeiten:
The Four Times

Fantasia in F major, FaWV O:F1:
Lamento
Andante
Largo ma non tanto
Un poco allegro

Serenata:
Freudenbezeugung der Vier Tageszeiten, FaWV B:3:
Prolog (Phoebus), Der Rauch von eurer Opferglut
Rezitativo (Phoebus), Dass Menschen auf der Erden
Coro, Meine frühen Morgenstunden
Rezitativo (Phoebus, Hesperus, Cynthia, Aurora), Aurora, die vor meinem Wagen schreitet
Aria (Aurora), Mein erhöhtes Rosenlicht
Rezitativo (Phoebus), Wahr ist‘s, das allgemeine Hoffen
Aria (Phoebus), Mein Glanz bestrahlet zwar die Welt
Rezitativo (Hesperus), Wenn andere den Tag anstatt der Sorge
Aria (Hesperus), Schlagt ihr Stunden teilt die Zeiten
Rezitativo (Cynthia), Wenn dann dein teures Haupt
Aria (Cynthia), Schlaf du Herrscher dieses Landes
Rezitativo (Aurora, Phoebus, Hesperus, Cynthia), Mein Morgenrot soll dir, Durchlauchtigster
Aria (Cynthia), Der Himmel kann dich nicht alleine lassen
Rezitativo (Phoebus), So lenke dann hierauf noch einen Gnadenblick
Coro, Es lebe Fürst Johann August

The brief heyday of the Anhaltinische Hof in Zerbst (Saxony-Anhalt) coincided with the work of its court Kapellmeister Johann Friedrich Fasch. The benevolent and prudent Prince Johann August von Anhalt-Zerbst (1677-1742) expanded his court orchestra and engaged outstanding musicians for this purpose. The duties of his Kapellmeister were varied and extensive, including providing special compositions for the birthdays of the ruling family. For the prince's birthday on 9 June 1723, he composed The Four Day Times, a serenata for four soloists and a very colourful and lavish orchestra. With Aurora (the morning), Phoebus (the noon), Hesperus (the evening) and Cynthia (the night), the deities of the four times of day appear to pay homage to the ruler. The programme is complemented by an equally colourful four-movement Fantasia, which unusually requires three different soloist scorings: first 2 oboes, then 2 transverse flutes and the last two movements are then a first version of Fasch's concerto for chalumeau, the preliminary form of the clarinet. All works are world premiere recordings.