Richard Jenkinson, Innovation Chamber Ensemble - Wassenaer: 6 Concerti armonici (2016)

Tracklist

01. Concerto armonico No. 1 in G Major: I. Grave
02. Concerto armonico No. 1 in G Major: II. Allegro
03. Concerto armonico No. 1 in G Major: III. Un poco andante
04. Concerto armonico No. 1 in G Major: IV. Allegro
05. Concerto armonico No. 2 in B-Flat Major: I. Largo andante
06. Concerto armonico No. 2 in B-Flat Major: II. Da cappella. Presto
07. Concerto armonico No. 2 in B-Flat Major: III. Largo affettuoso
08. Concerto armonico No. 2 in B-Flat Major: IV. Allegro moderato
09. Concerto armonico No. 3 in A Major: I. Grave sostenuto
10. Concerto armonico No. 3 in A Major: II. Da cappella. Presto
11. Concerto armonico No. 3 in A Major: III. Largo andante
12. Concerto armonico No. 3 in A Major: IV. Vivace
13. Concerto armonico No. 4 in G Major: I. Largo
14. Concerto armonico No. 4 in G Major: II. Da cappella. Non presto
15. Concerto armonico No. 4 in G Major: III. Largo affetuoso
16. Concerto armonico No. 4 in G Major: IV. Allegro
17. Concerto armonico No. 5 in F Minor: I. Adagio
18. Concerto armonico No. 5 in F Minor: II. Da cappella
19. Concerto armonico No. 5 in F Minor: III. A tempo comodo
20. Concerto armonico No. 5 in F Minor: IV. A tempo giusto
21. Concerto armonico No. 6 in E-Flat Major: I. Affettuoso
22. Concerto armonico No. 6 in E-Flat Major: II. Presto
23. Concerto armonico No. 6 in E-Flat Major: III. Largo
24. Concerto armonico No. 6 in E-Flat Major: IV. Vivace
25. Digital Booklet: Wassenaer: 6 Concerti armonici



The set of six Concerti Armonici for strings and basso continuo published without ascription in The Hague in 1740 is such good music that it has seldom been out of circulation since, though its authorship has been a mystery until comparatively recently.

The Concerti were first printed by the Italian violinist Carlo Ricciotti who was an associate of van Wassenaer. Thus Ricciotti became the first candidate for authorship: over the years, others included Handel, Birkenstock et al but the most popular of these supposed authors was Pergolesi. It wasn’t until 1979-80 when the Dutch musicologist Alfred Dunning carried out research in the library of Twickel Castle, the seat of the Dutch aristocratic van Wassenaer family, that he found an actual MS of the Concerti Armonici with a preface by the composer, the distinguished Dutch Diplomat, Count Wilhelm van Wassenaer, known and admired as much for his musical as his political talents. Wassenaer himself was not entirely satisfied with the Concerti but generations of later listeners have not accepted his verdict. Their range of expression and technique is remarkable and the variations in style between movements mark him out as a gifted and original musician who was adept at variations in texture and knew how to handle a group of string instruments. Above all, it is the beauty of these works and Wassenaer’s uniquely individual voice, both noble and poetic, which continue to earn them a high place among the instrumental music of the early 18th century.

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