Hasse: Harpsichord Sonatas

Featuring

Luca Guglielmi
Johann Adolph Hasse

Did you know?

1/7

Composition History

The only collection of harpsichord music personally compiled by Johann Adolf Hasse, the composer, was created during his 1750 journey to Paris.

Performer Biography

Luca Guglielmi, the harpsichordist on this album, is also an organist, composer, and conductor who frequently collaborates with renowned artists like Jordi Savall and Cecilia Bartoli.

Composer Biography

Johann Adolf Hasse, the composer, was considered the most famous opera composer in Europe during the mid-18th century.

Composer Biography

Johann Adolf Hasse, the composer, was known as 'Sassone' (Saxon) in 18th-century Italy, a nickname also given to Georg Friedrich Händel.

Compositional Technique

Johann Adolf Hasse's harpsichord works primarily feature three genres: toccatas (the most archaic form), more elaborate pieces called toccata or sonata (often fast-slow-fast), and modern sonatas (like those for the Dauphine).

Composition History

The four Sonatas 'made for the Royal Dauphine of France' by Johann Adolf Hasse were never printed, likely out of respect for their private origin, but circulated widely in handwritten copies.

Instruments

The recording features copies of historical harpsichords from different periods, including an Elpidio Gregori (1726), a Jean Claude Goujon (1749), and a Christian Vater (1738).