Sammartini: Sonatas for Cello & B.C. [CD de audio]

The essential contribution of Giovanni Battista Sammartini (c.1700-1775) to the history of music is universally recognized. He established the foundations of the Classical Symphony: he helped establish the orchestra's standard composition and promoted individual independence and timbres in his partial compositions, while baroque customs (especially basso continuo) gradually gave way to sonata form. The program of this disc delves into this very partially unexplored terrain, presenting a selection of sonatas for cello and basso continuo: the collection of six of his Op.4, published in Paris in 1742, and two sonatas of uncertain date, one in G major and another in G minor. Despite these caveats, the cello sonatas presented here remain an excellent example of the transition from the baroque to the classical period, and in particular of a uniquely elegant style of composition that skillfully applies cello technique to imagination and invention. spontaneous. For this reason, the performers of this recording have chosen to further increase the individual character and freshness of each sonata by using different instruments for the continuo bass line, freely chosen but with solid historical bases. Performed by the Italian ensemble Dolci Accenti, with Daniele Cernuto (baroque cello), Calogero Sportato (baroque guitar, theorbo, archilaud), Cipriana Smarandescu (harpsichord) and Anna Grendene (baroque cello). The English booklet contains Marco Bellano's notes and a profile of the ensemble.