Sonate Accademiche - An Anthology

Description

Florentin, born Francesco Maria Veracini (1690-1786), was considered one of the greatest violin virtuosos of his time. Stays in London, Düsseldorf, Venice and Dresden brought the eccentric musician international fame. Among his many works, his Sonate Accademiche opus 2 (London/Florence 1744) for violin and basso continuo is the best known today. The character of the Sonate Accademiche is defined by a particular combination of the intellectual, the virtuosic and the highly expressive. Despite the technically demanding writing for the violin, Veracini’s masterfully idiomatic approach to his own instrument means that the virtuosity flows with natural ease and playfulness. The collection of the Sonate Accademiche is extensive in its length and variety. The sonatas do not adhere to the standard forms of the time, such as the Italian sonata da camera or sonata da chiesa. Veracini himself in his own preface: “... two, or even three movements, chosen at will, are enough to form a sonata of suitable length. Eva Saladin has applied Veracini’s approach to the entire book, allowing her to choose contrasting parts of the sonatas and highlight the most interesting features of the music by combining individual movements into a flowing program with connecting keys and clear dramaturgy.