The theme of 'villeggiatura' (country retreats) frequently inspired Robert Valentine's compositions, with some sonatas named after towns in the Roman countryside.
Composer Biography
At the start of his career in Rome, Robert Valentine was a multi-instrumentalist, skilled in playing several instruments, including violin, flute, and oboe.
Composition History
Robert Valentine's Sonate di Flauto a Solo col Basso...Opera Terza (1710) and Sonate per il flauto traversiero col basso Op.XII (1730) were among the first printed collections for recorder and transverse flute in 18th-century Italy.
Composer Biography
Valentine's father and brothers were 'waits,' musicians employed by the Leicester municipality.
Composer Biography
Robert Valentine, also known as Roberto Valentini, was born in Leicester, England, and later moved to Rome, where he Italianized his name.
Recording & Production
Enrico Casularo, the traverso player and director, plays a traverso made by V. De Gregorio, Rome, after Th. Stanesby Junior, London, circa 1730.
Performer Biography
Anne Kirchmeier, a recorder player on this album, made the first playable version of Leonardo da Vinci's fissure flute in 2019, based on his original design.
