BAROQUE EN EUROPE
Johan Helmich ROMAN (1694-1758)
Sonata in b minor for flute and basso continuo
Michel PIGNOLET DE MONTECLAIR
(1667-1737)
Concerto no. 2 for flute and basso continuo
Simon BALICOURT (18th century)
Sonata in D major for flute and basso continuo
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Partita in c minor for flute and harpsichord
Georg PhiIipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Sonata in f minor for flute and basso continuo
Ensemble Fraal
Jacques LesburgËres - flute
Hans-Michael Eckert - cello
Hans-Wolfgang Brassel - harpsichord
rec March 1993
ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9014
[52.55]
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Small ensembles were relatively common in the Baroque period. Music had two
functions at that time: one was religious, with a variety of works performed
in churches, from organ music to cantatas, and from motets to passions. The
second was secular, with music played in the homes and castles of nobles.
Small ensembles made it possible to provide music easily in secular situations,
and one of the popular instruments at the time was the flute, playing with
a continuo (either a harpsichord alone, as in the Bach partite on this disc,
or with other instruments, such as cello or viola da gamba).
This recording is a selection of works for flute and continuo from a variety
of Baroque composers. Together, they show the relationship between various
Baroque composers and their works, and just how much Baroque music was unified
throughout Europe.
Works by three German composers, Bach, Telemann and Roman, and two French
composers, Monteclair and Balicourt, were chosen for this disc. While the
Bach and Telemann works are fairly well known, the other composers are much
less known, and it is interesting to hear these works for the first time.
The Roman is an attractive, upbeat work, with some nice dance movements.
The Monteclair concerto begins with a plaintive movement, which fits
the flute perfectly. It recalls some of Charpentier's Leçons des
tenèbres. Even the faster movements retain this melancholic sound,
yet one may wonder why a rondeau is played so slowly. The Balicourt
sonata is a short, simple work in three movements. It has relatively
simple melodies, and is not exceptional. The Bach partita is one of
Bach's finer works. The tempi chosen here do not seem ideal; the opening
prelude is played rather fast, and the melody seems to be lost, but the long
fugue works much better. The Telemann is based on the standard 'sonata
da chiesa' form (slow-fast-slow-fast), and the slow movements are especially
melancholic (the first is even marked triste). The final movement
of this sonata, the closing piece on the disc, is a lively, virtuosic piece,
where the flute plays a series of rhythmic runs in 3/4 time.
The musicians play well together, although the recording focuses too much
on the flute at the expense of the harpsichord.
An interesting recording of some well-known and other little-known Baroque
works for flute and continuo.
Kirk McElhearn
Full Track Details
BAROQUE EN EUROPE
Johan Helmich ROMAN (1694-1758)
Sonata in b minor for flute and basso continuo
1. Larghetto 3:35
2. Allegro 1:58
3. Non troppo Allegro 1:48
4. Grave 1:20
5. Allegro 1:04
Michel PIGNOLET DE MONTECLAIR
(1667-1737)
Concerto no. 2 for flute and basso continuo
6. Prélude 1:47
7. Allemande 1:48
8. Courante et l'italienne 1:18
9. Sarabande 2:33
10. Rondeau 1:45
Simon BALICOURT (18th century)
Sonata in D major for flute and basso continuo
11. Allegro 3:18
12. Adagio 2:37
13. Moderato 1:39
Johann Sebastian BACH (1685-1750)
Partita in c minor for flute and harpsichord
14. Preludio 2:40
15. Fuga 5:24
16. Sarabande 4:00
17. Gigue - Double - Gigue 4:17
Georg PhiIipp TELEMANN (1681-1767)
Sonata in f minor for flute and basso continuo
18.Triste 1:56
19. Allegro 3:51
20. Andante 1:36
21.Vivace 2:01
Ensemble Fraal
Jacques LesburgËres - flute
Hans-Michael Eckert - cello
Hans-Wolfgang Brassel - harpsichord
rec March 1993
ANTES EDITION BM-CD 31.9014 [52.55]
.
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