Telemann: Trio Sonatas for Recorder and Viola da Gamba

Telemann was renowned in his own day for the spontaneity and fluency of his music, which appealed to professional and amateur musicians alike. These qualities abound in his trio sonatas in particular. As he wrote in one of his autobiographies (1718): ‘In particular, people wished to persuade me that trios were my greatest strength, because I arranged them so that one voice would have as much to do as the other.’
All the Telemann trio sonatas in which the recorder is accompanied by one or another of the viols can be found on this CD. As Telemann keeps changing his tune, no two trio sonatas are alike. In the Trio Sonata in D minor (TWV 42:d7) he saves the Polish style for the final measures, to achieve an irresistible finale effect. Although he does not shun virtuosity, these sonatas contain slow movements of unparalleled tenderness. The most rigorous of all, without sounding it, is the Trio Sonata in C major (TWV 42:C2), in which the recorder and the bass viol play in canon in all four movements.
In his Quartet in G major (TWV 43:G10) Telemann combines two bass viols with a traverso. Erik Bosgraaf plays the solo part on a voice flute, a tenor recorder in D, ideal for playing traverso repertoire without having to transpose. This quartet exhibits his mastery of musical party-games by constantly alternating role patterns in the fast movements. Finally, there is an F major Suite which gives the starring roles to the chalumeau (an early form of the bassoon), another of the many instruments Telemann had learnt to play in his youth.
Critical praise for previous Telemann albums by Erik Bosgraaf
‘Erik Bosgraaf is an extraordinary recorder player, and this is as fine a recording of music by one of the giants of the Baroque period as there is… The approach, in fact, is simply perfect, and one’s delight does not slacken for a minute of the 75-minute recital.’ Fanfare (Suites and Concertos, 95248)
‘Delightful masterpieces in one place, in technically pristine performances in the Brüggen/Dutch style, on copies of period instruments. Bosgraaf plays brilliantly, conducts his excellent 13-member ensemble, and clearly relishes the sparkling interplay with celebrated colleagues.’ Fanfare (Double Concertos, 95249)
‘Bosgraaf is utterly superb, with a clear tone and dexterity that has to be heard to be believed… This is precisely the sort of recording that one needs to have in one’s collection, as it will clearly knock your socks off.’ Fanfare (Fantazias, 95249)

- This new recording contains the complete Trio Sonatas for recorder and viola da gamba by Georg Philipp Teleman.
- Telemann composed for both amateurs and professionals; he had a feeling for entertainment, for music which everybody could understand, however untutored their ears. Telemann wrote in the introduction to his music periodical “Der getreue Music-Meister”
(1728) that he was sure “that the notes have by now sought me out almost as quickly as I have sought for them”. The music brims with spontaneity, one bright idea after another, the joy of composing.
- On this recording Erik Bosgraaf plays the alto recorder, voice flute and alto chalumeau, Lucile Boulanger and Robert Smith the dessus de viol and bass viol, Carl Rosman the tenor chalumeau and Alessandro Pianu the harpsichord and organ.
- Telemann is one of the favourite composers of Erik Bosgraaf: “If Bach is a master chef, then Telemann is a master chef’s cook book. Bach serves ready-to-eat dishes, Telemann offers the ingredients for you to work with. You will get nowhere without imagination!”
- Erik Bosgraaf is one of the most remarkable recorder players of today. Equally at home in early as well as contemporary music he extends the limits of his instrument, achieving an extreme range of expression and unheard-of effects. He travels the world, giving his unorthodox concerts combining the old and the new, in his own inimitable way. He worked with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Hong Kong Philharmonic, Melbourne SO, The Hague Residentie Orchestra, as a soloist and even as conductor.