In Sonata 7 in D major Balicourt opens with a suave intricately rhythmic Adagio. The following Presto with its delightful interplay between flute and bass including both octave doubling and stretto imitation is the most skittish movement to emerge from the composer’s pen. The finale is a ‘sandwich’ movement in which a Minuetto encloses a duple-metre Cantabile in D minor. Although the minuet could be said to exemplify one of those ‘easy’ movements referred to in Balicourt’s prospectus for subscribers its complex prescribed ornamentation requires sensitive handling. Sonata 8 in E minor is strategically placed as the final work inthe set being one of the longest as well as the most conservative; adopting the traditional four-movement configuration it continually harks back to the grand Handelian style. An eloquent Andante ushers in a Presto containing many slightly academic contrapuntal touches and much chromaticism. The subsequent Largo is only five bars long: its plain melodic line in minims and crotchets is the skeleton around which the flautist is expected to weave an elaborate embroidery. For the finale Balicourt introduces in effect a new version in triple metre of the second movement. The fact that all four movements are in E minor heightens the sense of unity which is expressed very concretely through their sharing of some thematic material.

for Flute or Violin and Continuo-?Methodical? was how Telemann?s six sonatas were described when they were published in 1732 because they included a second ornamented version of the simple melody line of the solo instrument for the slow opening movements andfor the second movement of the c-minor sonata. This is music that is both instructive and also a delight to play and G. Henle Publishers can highly recommend it to the flautists and violinists of today. This lavishly appointednew edition has separate solo and bass continuo parts that contain the other part in each case for orientation purposes. There is also an additional part featuring only the figured bass line. This edition includes the score whichalso features a historically faithful realisation of the figured bass. The first volume of ?Methodical Sonatas? has already been published (HN 1266); this means that all twelve of Telemann?s sonatas are now available as HenleUrtext editions.

Solo for Flute and Basso continuo in B minor (TWV 41:h4)Tafelmusik IIf Telemann was regarded by his contemporaries as one of the greatest of all composers his star faced with the overwhelming presence of Bach and Handel paled in the course of the 19th century to the verge of contempt. This assessment changed radically during the course of the last century. Through the systematic exploration of his music Telemann once considered purely an instrumental composer has emerged into a highly cultivated culturally well-connected and enormously versatile artistic personality who left an indelible mark on the musical life of his time. Again and again we discover anindividual approach in his works that seems to abandon the musical conventions of his day both large and small.The Tafelmusik (Musique de Table) is a collection of chamber pieces for various ensembles arranged into 3 parts and is perhaps Telemann's most celebrated collection of music. Composed in 1733 the Tafelmusik clearly demonstrates Telemann's skill in handling a diversity of musical genres and a variety of instruments.- Urtext of the Telemann Edition

This second volume of Michel Blavet's Opus 2 sonatas contains Sonatas 4-6 arranged for Flute with Basso Continuo. The Basso Continuo can be played by the piano or there is a pull-out cello part to accompany the Flute instead.