Sonata BWV 1035

SKU: HH.HH373-FSP

ISBN 9781910359051.

While one tends to associate the trio sonata for two violins and continuo with Italy, the trio sonata for flute, violin and continuo was largely the province of German composers (including Telemann, J.S. Bach, Handel, and then later Quantz, C.Ph.E. Bach, C.H. Graun and other musicians attached to the court of Frederick the Great). It is therefore surprising to discover that one of the very first collections of trio sonatas for this particular scoring was composed by the Frenchman Joseph Bodin de Boismortier (1689-1755), whose sonatas were moreover intentionally written in the ‘Italian style’.

SKU: M7.BP-444

ISBN 9790015044403.

SKU: HH.HH438-FSP

ISBN 9781910359471.

In Sonata 3 in F major the opening Largo is styled as a Siciliana, this species of movement being especially common in the flute repertory on account of the instrument’s pastoral associations. The Spiritoso that follows is a movement both tuneful and energetic. A concluding Presto ramps up the excitement, introducing some piquant harmonies. Sonata 4 is in the shady key of C minor, relatively rare in flute music of the eighteenth century because of intonation difficulties. The opening Arioso is attractively plaintive. The Allegro moderato that follows has some very effective imitative interplay between flute and bass. For the finale, Balicourt writes a soulful Cantabile in minuet style that recalls similar C minor movements in the music of Alessandro Scarlatti and Francesco Geminiani.