Various Composers - Erbarme dich! (Ayres Extemporae)

Information

• Matthew Locke - The Little Consort: Suite No. 5 in E Minor: I. Pavane
• Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber - Violin Sonata No. 5 in E Minor, C. 142
• Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 2 in D Major, BWV 1028: III. Andante
• Johann Sebastian Bach - Ich armer Mensch, ich Sündenknecht, BWV 55: III. Aria. Erbarme dich!
• Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber - Violin Sonata No. 6 in C Minor, C. 143
• Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba No. 3 in G Minor, BWV 1029: II. Adagio
• Johann Sebastian Bach - In allen meinen Taten, BWV 97: IV. Aria. Ich traue seiner Gnaden
• Johann Sebastian Bach - Sonata for Viola da Gamba in G Major, BWV 1027
• Andreas Oswald - Violin Sonata in D Major: Ciaccona
• Johann Sebastian Bach - Violin Sonata in A Major, BWV 1015: III. Andante un poco

Ayres Extemporae

    Xenia Gogu, violin

    Víctor García García, 5-strings cello

    Teresa Madeira, cello

Date: 2026

Label: Linn Records

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Making their recording debut on Linn Records, the trio Ayres Extemporae—winners of the 2024 York Early Music International Young Artists Competition—presents Erbarme dich! This profound program explores the unique textures of their unusual instrumentation, featuring a violin, a five-string cello, and a standard cello. The album charts a spiritual journey from torment to redemption, anchoring its universal themes around instrumental transcriptions of J.S. Bach's arias and sonatas, interwoven with expressive works by Biber and Locke. Moving through the full spectrum of human emotion toward ultimate peace, the recording captures a touching, vulnerable plea for mercy.

Based in Belgium and the Netherlands, Ayres Extemporae is an award-winning early music ensemble consisting of violinist Xenia Gogu and cellists Víctor García García and Teresa Madeira. Renowned for winning the 2024 York International Young Artists Competition, the trio has performed across prestigious European festivals. Their innovative performance practice centers on historically informed experimentation with the basso continuo, replacing traditional harpsichord accompaniment with a unique pairing of a four-string cello and a five-string cello piccolo. Through live improvisation, spontaneous ornamentation, and fluidly shifting instrumental roles, the ensemble generates an exceptionally rich variety of colors and textures.