Geminiani: Sonatas for Violoncello & Basso Continuo

Featuring

Alison McGillivray
David McGuinness
Eligio Quinteiro
Joseph Crouch
Francesco Geminiani

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Composition History

Geminiani's Op. 5 Cello Sonatas, first published in Paris in 1746, reflect the burgeoning Parisian school of cello playing and the shift in favor of the Italian cello over the viola da gamba.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Geminiani initially found London's musical scene promising, believing the 'growth of the art of music would be suitable to the excellency of the soil'.

Composer Biography

Geminiani eventually became disillusioned with London's musical taste, feeling that performance was valued more than composition, and sought inspiration abroad.

Historical Context

London in the early 18th century was enthusiastic about Italian culture, with Italian opera becoming fashionable and figures like Handel gathering Italian musicians.

Composer Biography

Francesco Geminiani, the composer, arrived in London in 1714 with a strong musical pedigree, having studied with Alessandro Scarlatti and Arcangelo Corelli.

Composition History

Geminiani paid homage to his master Corelli by reworking Corelli's Op. 5 Violin Sonatas into concerti grossi, which helped advance his own name and made Corelli's music more accessible.

Composer Biography

Geminiani was a prodigious violinist, but his improvisatory style often made him difficult for other musicians to follow, leading to an unhappy early post in Naples.