EIN GOLDBERGWERK

A GOLD MINE

Sonatas by J.S. Bach, W.F. Bach, C.P.E. Bach, J.G. Goldberg und G.P. Telemann
The practice of arranging chamber music works for various types of instrumentation was widespread in the 18th century. This is illustrated by two examples: The sonatas by the Roman violin virtuoso Arcangelo Corelli, which at the time were widespread throughout Europe, also circulated in adaptations for the fashionable recorder, and the arias from the acclaimed operas by Johann Adolph Hasse were used by the dozen in “da camera” fashion for singing voice and lute. When their works were published, many composers indicated that they could be performed by a variety of different instruments. We encounter formulations such as in the title of Georg Philipp Telemann's Kleine Cammer-Music (1716) at every turn: "for the violin, traverse flute, as well as the clavicembalo, but especially for the Hautbois". One might think that alternative instrumentations of this kind are a phenomenon of the sphere of music lovers and amateurs, which grew in importance especially in the 18th century, but such a conclusion would be premature.

THE THEATRE OF THE EARS
Carsten Eckert recorder
Alexandra Koreneva harpsichord