Gravitas- Full Score

Flute & basso continuo

SKU: HH.HH446-FSP

Composed by Simon Balicourt. Edited by Michael Talbot. Flute & Basso Continuo. Full score and parts. Edition HH Music Publishers #HH446-FSP. Published by Edition HH Music Publishers (HH.HH446-FSP).

ISBN 9790708146537.

The Andante opening Sonata 3, in D minor, demonstrates Balicourt’s mastery of a an entirely natural lyricism that is elegant without ever becoming bland. The vivacious Allegro that follows has an endearing playfulness reminiscent of Vivaldi. The third movement, Andante, moves to F major and is noteworthy for some delightful imitative play between flute and bass. A sprightly Minuetto brings up the rear. Sonata 4, in A minor, opens with a Largo of an almost Handelian gravitas. It is followed by a fleet-footed Allegro that at several points contains figurations derived from violinistic style as exemplified by Vivaldi. For the concluding movement, a graceful Affettuoso, Balicourt switches to A major, a way of lightening the mood that in 1750 was not yet common but very soon was to become a favoured practice in minor-key works.

Harpsichord or organ, strings, basso continuo

SKU: HH.HH545-FSC

Composed by Henry Junior Burgess. Edited by Michael Talbot. Full score. Edition HH Music Publishers #HH545-FSC. Published by Edition HH Music Publishers (HH.HH545-FSC).

ISBN 9790708185604.

Burgess’s concertos display unity in larger matters and variety in smaller ones, aiming to achieve coherence without monotony. Their greatest originality, and a major part of their attractiveness, arises from the fact that they draw their inspiration from three different sources. Particularly in the fast movements not in binary form, they adopt the structure and much of the style of equivalent movements by Vivaldi. But they also follow Handelian precedent in their copious use of the ‘call-and-response’ device, where soloist and orchestra exchange a series of phrases, and in their striving for gravitas and pathos. To these influences can be added their frequent allusions to English song and dance traditions.