The Italian castrato Carlo Broschi, known as Farinelli, was brought to Spain in 1737 by Queen Elisabeth of Parma to help alleviate King Philip V's melancholia and insomnia.
Compositional Technique
Ledesma's sonatas show an affinity with the Italian school, particularly Corelli and his students, but also incorporate 'espagnolism' with melodic turns and rhythms recalling Spanish folk music.
Interpretation
The choice of bass accompaniment varies by sonata, with some using cello and Baroque guitar, others cello and pre-Romantic guitar, and one sonata omitting guitar entirely for transparency.
Composer Biography
Juan de Ledesma, the composer, was born around 1713 in Segovia and served as a page to Infante Ferdinand, who later became King Ferdinand VI.
Composition History
The sonatas on this recording were rediscovered by musicologist Lothar Siemens in 1986 and published in 1989, representing the only known sonatas by Juan de Ledesma.
Historical Context
During the time of these sonatas, Madrid was a leading cultural center, and despite political decline, Spain experienced a cultural boom partly due to the new French dynasty.
Interpretation
The performers chose to use guitar instead of harpsichord for harmonic support, believing it better respects the balance between violin and cello and highlights the Spanish character of the sonatas.
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