Marcel Ponseele and il Gardellino have just released a second volume of their cantata series. They envisage making five recordings altogether under the theme of a ‘testimony’, each of which will focus on a specific theme. Each recorder will include works of Bach, and, at the sametime, works by his contemporaries like Graupner, Telemann, Zelenka and others. 

On the question if the ‘Testimonia’ represents a kind of musical testament, Marcel Ponseele answers: No, absolutely not! ‘Testament’ has connotations which are a little too definitive, like a final breath – no. ‘Testimonia’ means testimony. This series of recordings must testify to the way we approach Bach at the beginning of the 21st century, and above all the manner in which we attempt to pass on to the receptive soul the universal message, which shinesout from the music of Bach.