Fuga, Tertii Toni (RV 39)

Andrew (ErzahlerI) invited me to take part in the 'Peyer Parade'. Of course, I could not resist to dig a little into where this music comes from and what uncertainties surround it.

Johann Baptist Peyer (1680 - 1733) was an Austrian organist and composer. The main source of his compositions is manuscript Mus. Ms. 1220, held by the Staatsbibliothek zu Berlin. That manuscript contains 4 fascicles. The scribe of the manuscript ascirbes the music in the first fascicle to Andreas Bayer (1710 - 1740), the music in fascicles 2 and 3 to Peyer and the music in fascicle 4 to "Sig Beÿer".

The music in fascicles 2 and 3 is more modern, more like the galant style, than you would expect for someone born in 1680. Some scholars therefore believe that the ascription to Peyer in this manuscript is an error, and that it is more likely that Andreas Bayer (who was born 30 years later than Peyer) is in fact the composer of this music and in fact of all the music in Mus Ms 1220..

Be that as it may, Bayer or Peyer, it is attractive music to play and to listen to. So, here's my contribution to the Parade.