The Recorder in the Low Countries

Works by Fiocco, Leclair, Loeillet, Parcham, Schickhardt and Wassenaer

Erik Bosgraaf (recorder),

Francesco Corti (harpsichord) Brilliant Classics 95907 79:57 mins Dutch count and amateur musician, Wassenaer, a contemporary of Bach and Handel, has been known solely for six varied and attractive concertos. Now we can add three Italianate recorder sonatas to his modest oeuvre. Recorder players will be delighted to enhance their repertoire with these engaging pieces that are gratifying to play.

Erik Bosgraaf has an enviable technique, and deserves special praise for the originality of this programme. The two items by Loeillet de Gant (Ghent) – not to be confused with his Londonbased cousin of the same name

– will be familiar to most recorder enthusiasts. Bosgraaf plays five different sizes of instrument, wielding a bass recorder for the Loeillet A minor Sonata. Although an interesting choice, the more usual treble recorder realises more persuasively the elegance of the writing. Much more convincing are the pieces by Andreas Parcham (descant recorder) and Johann Christian Schickhardt (treble recorder). The last mentioned is a real showpiece, dispatched with breathtaking virtuosity.

Two remaining items are of particular interest and offer the greatest musical rewards. One is a G major Sonata for flute or violin by Leclair, played on a tenor or ‘voice flute’; the other, a group of four harpsichord pieces, stylishly played by Bosgraaf’s musical partner Francesco Corti. Nicholas Anderson PERFORMANCE ★★★★ RECORDING ★★★★