Sammartini to Mendelssohn

My reviewing task this quarter is a small pile of CDs ranging chronologically from Giovanni Battista Sammartini to Mendelssohn, and geographically from the Spain of Boccherini, the Milan of Sammartini and the Eszterháza of Haydn to the Stockholm of Kraus. These are mainly chamber works, for various instrumental combinations. Even the six little Sammartini symphonies include just two that require more than two- or three-part strings. The only proper exception is a pair of orchestral symphonies by Boccherini.

All six works in this programme of Giovanni Battista Sammartini: Symphonies (Naxos 8.557298, rec 2003, 60') are in three movements (the first, no.62 in the standard Jenkins/Churgin listing, has alternative finales, both being played here). This work includes a pair of trumpets; the last on the CD, J-C4 in C, adds two horns to the strings, which, in two or three parts, otherwise represent the full ensemble. All four of the strings-only works are included (under different numbering) in the volume of The early symphonies edited by Bathia Churgin and published in 1968; the more richly scored ones probably date from around 1750. This is an attractive selection from Sammartini's 60-plus symphonies, all of them mainly short-breathed yet neatly constructed, with energetic fast movements and more languorous and melodious slow ones. The Aradia Ensemble, based in Toronto, is on this showing a talented group, and Kevin Mellon directs sprightly and perceptive readings. With a short but good leaflet note, and resonantly recorded, this is an issue well worth sampling—and buying—especially as none of the pieces is otherwise available, and Sammartini has (or should have) an honoured place in the early history of the symphony. This is a thoroughly enjoyable and impressive disc.

Johann Christian Friedrich Bach was born in Leipzig in the same year as Haydn; he was the third of the four sons of J. S. Bach to make a successful career as musician. He died in 1795 at Bückeburg, where he had spent most of his career in the service of the music-loving Count Wilhelm of Schaumburg-Lippe. In J. C. F. Bach: Flute sonatas (Symphonia SY 04212, rec 2004, 63') we are given Sonatas 1, 3 and 5 from Sechs Sonaten für das Clavier mit Begleitung einer Flöte oder Violine, published at Riga in 1777, and a solitary (and more adventurous) Sonata per Flauto traverso o Violino, Violoncello e Cembalo concertato (o Piano-Forte) which dates from the mid-1780s. The choice of language for these two publications points felicitously to the twin elements most characteristic of Friedrich's style: Italianate melody and German earnestness. There is no undue solemnity to these works, though, rather charm, high spirits and a broad stylistic range—there are even recitative passages in the Andante of the first sonata. This Bach is thinly represented in the current CD catalogue, though there are two versions of the complete 1777 sonatas. The players, with the cellist only entering the field with a solo role in the last work, are Marcello Gatti (flute), Giovanni Togni (fortepiano) and Giovanna Barbati (cello); they shine individually, and make a fine team. A small insert leaflet (with rather feeble notes in Italian, English and German) fails to identify the period instruments employed, or tell the reader anything about the works played. The recorded quality is warm and well balanced.

Joseph Haydn is represented by a pleasing though hardly mainstream choice of works in Haydn: Concertinos (Naxos 8.557660, rec 2004, 74'): four of the early piano concertinos with two slightly later string trios, Hob. V:16 in C and Hob. XI:11 in D (the latter an arrangement of a baryton trio) for contrast between pairs of them. In fact the concertinos were probably intended for, and are here played by, two violins and a cello; the pianist is Sabine Vatin, with the unexpected choice of a fortepiano of 1893 by Erard, which is warm yet fresh toned. The concertinos (Hob. XIV:11, 12 and 13; XVIII:F2) are well suited to being accompanied by two violins and cello: they are miniatures with sparkling keyboard...