Bernhard Sekles (1872–1934) was one of the leading figures in German music in the first decades of the twentieth century, prominent as composer, educator and administrator. In 1928, as director of the Hoch Conservatorium in Frankfurt, he established the first academic programme in jazz studies, an act of courage and conviction that unleashed furious attacks from the Nazi press. His own late-Romantic music, banned during the Third Reich, has been virtually forgotten, although he composed in all major genres, including opera, orchestral works and chamber music. This first-ever album of his Lieder includes a major song-cycle, the freewheeling Aus dem Schi-King, based on ancient Chinese poetry in adaptations by Friedrich Rückert, its moods ranging from the heroic to the comic.

“I am so pleased to have had the opportunity to have been introduced to this composer who I really hope will emerge from obscurity with the help of this disc. He thoroughly deserves to be heard by every chamber music lover. These three musicians have done the composer great service in projecting their obvious admiration for Sekles into their playing which is flawless and makes the disc a really valuable discovery.” – Steve Arloff, MusicWeb International (TOCC0147: Sekles - Chamber Music)