The music of Johannes (Johann) Speth is somewhat reminiscent of that of his more famous contemporaries
Georg Muffat and
Johann Caspar Ferdinand Fischer. The latter is discussed at length in Grove Music Online. Speth must make do with only two minute paragraphs. Speth's organ music is nevertheless an attractive example of the lively South German organ music of the 17th century. Speth's legacy was
… limited to the Ars Magna Consoni et Dissoni. This book consists partly of Toccatas, referred to as musical flower fields. In addition, we hear a series of magnificats, arranged according to the traditional church tones. These magnificats were intended for practical church use. The CD shows exactly how this was done, namely alternately instrumental and vocal. Finally, three partitas in the Italian style. A fine, but limited oeuvre therefore, exactly enough for one CD. (HJ)more
