A Bohemian in London

Duo Dorado – violinist Hazel Brooks and harpsichord and organ player David Pollock – present thirteen sonatas by a little-known Moravian composer. Gottfried Finger (1655-1730), a virtuoso on the viol who once worked at the court of James II, wrote violin sonatas in a distinctive mixture of styles, showing the influence of his native land as well as the music of Corelli and Purcell. It all fits together, Brooks writes, 'like crazy paving'.

Featuring

Hazel Brooks
David Pollock
Duo Dorado
Gottfried Finger

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Composition History

In 1690, Gottfried Finger made history by publishing the first set of solo sonatas (three for violin and three for recorder) ever to appear in print in England.

Compositional Technique

Gottfried Finger's sonatas blend Bohemian features from his homeland, simpler Corellian traits, and occasional nods to the English Purcellian school, creating a unique charm.

Compositional Technique

Many of Finger's sonatas are composed of contrasting short sections rather than separate movements, sometimes linked by short basso continuo passages, characteristic of the Biber school.

Composer Biography

Finger grew up in a thriving musical scene in Olomouc, where he encountered leading musicians like Pavel Josef Vejvanovský and Heinrich Ignaz Franz von Biber.

Critical Reception

Despite being dismissed by some as a composer of trivial music, the widespread copying of Finger's sonatas in manuscripts testifies to their popularity.