Francesco Barsanti Sonatas for Recorder and Basso Continuo : Ensemble Electra

Francesco Barsanti Sonatas for Recorder and Basso Continuo by Ensemble Electra

Ensemble Electra : Francesco Barsanti Sonatas for Recorder and Basso Continuo.
Electrifying music from the italian baroque.

Francesco Barsanti was one of many Italian musicians who ventured to the cold northern European climes in the early 1700s. He arrived on London's lively musical scene in 1714, together with Francesco Geminiani, fourteen years after Corelli's orchestra had, according to historian Roger North, "cleared the ground of all sorts of musicke whatsoever." Geminiani, Barsanti and their contemporaries brought with them the sizzling Italian playing manner that soon became so popular. Barsanti made a decent living as flutist and oboist in the orchestra of London's Italian Opera Theatre. During these years, the six recorder sonatas were written, to be published in 1724 by Walsh on Catherine Street.

The recorder during this era was called simply "flute", or flauto, not to be confused with the "flauto traverso", or German flute. Barsanti's sonatas were published at a time when the transverse flute was beginning to overtake the recorder in popularity, but they are intended for the recorder. They are important not only because they are original compositions for the instrument, as opposed to transcriptions or arrangements, but also in that they represent some of the last works for the recorder before the instrument essentially went into hibernation for 175 years.

Barsanti's compositional style is flamboyantly expressive, often eccentric, and full of passion and wit. Clearly he was familiar with Handel's works, yet his harmonic language, frequent use of 9-8 suspensions, and enharmonic cadential clashes are unique and daring; his use of slurs in both the melodic line and the bass line are innovative and at times downright quirky. The energy and spirit of Barsanti's fast movements coupled with his ardent emotive slower movements create masterful pieces of lasting quality. We hope you enjoy listening to these sonatas as much as we enjoy playing them!

Songs:

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Release date: 3/22/2011
Ensemble Electra lives in Washington USA

Tagged as: Classical, Baroque, Instrumental, Composer: Francesco Barsanti, Cello, Harpsichord, Recorder

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