Leclair: Complete Flute Sonatas

Leclair: Complete Flute Sonatas
Barthold Kuijken / Wieland Kuijken / Robert Kohnen
Accent 8435 (2 CDs)
Accent 30035 (2 CDs)

Contents:

    Sonata Op. 2 No. 1 in E minor
  1. Adagio
  2. Allegro ma poco
  3. Sarabanda: Largo
  4. Allegro: Tambourin - Altro - Tambourin

    5. Sonata Op. 1 No. 2 in C major
  5. Adagio
  6. Corrente: Allegro
  7. Gavotta: Gratioso
  8. Giga: Allegro

    9. Sonata Op. 2 No. 3 in C major
  9. Adagio
  10. Allegro
  11. Largo
  12. Giga: Allegro ma poco

    13. Sonata Op. 1 No. 5 in G major
  13. Andante
  14. Allegro ma poco
  15. Gavotta: Gratioso
  16. Allegro assai
    Sonata Op. 1 No. 6 in E minor
  1. Adagio
  2. Vivace
  3. Aria: Affetuoso
  4. Allegro

    5. Sonata Op. 2 No. 11 in B minor
  5. Adagio
  6. Allegro
  7. Aria gratioso: Allegro ma non troppo

    8. Sonata Op. 2 No. 8 in D major
  8. Adagio
  9. Allegro
  10. Sarabanda: Largo
  11. Allegro assai

    12. Sonata Op. 9 No. 2 in E minor
  12. Dolce: Andante
  13. Allemanda: Allegro ma non troppo
  14. Sarabanda: Adagio
  15. Minuetto: Allegro ma non troppo

    16. Sonata Op. 9 No. 7 in G major
  16. Dolce: Andante
  17. Allegro ma non troppo
  18. Aria: Affetuoso - Altro
  19. Giga: Allegro moderato

Performers: Barthold Kuijken (flute), Wieland Kuijken (viol), Robert Kohnen (harpsichord)

Playing time: 109'

Recording date: September 1984 (Beaufays)

Of course, Jean Marie Leclair (1697-1764) is best known for his violin writing. One example as part of a series:

Leclair: Sonates pour violon & basse continue, Livre IV
François Fernandez / Pierre Hantaï / Philippe Pierlot
Astrée 8586

These flute sonatas are alternate arrangements (by Leclair himself) of some of the violin sonatas. It is perhaps strange to think that someone credited with establishing idiomatic violin writing in France should have made his works available on more than one instrument, but nonetheless it is true. Selected violin sonatas were labeled as appropriate for recorder, the more prevalent amateur instrument, while some small sections contain slightly changed parts. Other recordings of these sonatas, which have become rather popular:

Leclair: Flute Sonatas
Christiansen et al.
Kontrapunkt 32006
Leclair: Flute Sonatas
Huntgeburth / Meyerson / Perl
AS&V Gaudeamus 158
Leclair: Flute Sonatas
Stallman / Bennion / Swanborn
Vai Audio 1068
Leclair: Complete Flute Chamber Music
Fenwick Smith et al.
Naxos 8.557440-41 (2 CDs)

And a couple of recordings using both:

Leclair: Sonates pour violon, traverso et basse continue
Ensemble Contrepoint
Pavane 7428
Leclair: Concertos
Monica Huggett / Claire Guimond / Arion Ensemble
Atma 2 2143

A sampler of flute music:

French Baroque Flute Music
Leclair / Blavet / de la Barre / Rameau
Rachel Brown / Mark Caudle / James Johnstone
Chandos Chaconne 0544

Another by the present group of performers:

French Flute Music of the Eighteenth Century
Monteclair / Blavet / Guignon / Boismortier / Leclair
Barthold Kuijken / Wieland Kuijken / Robert Kohnen
Accent 67909

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Todd M. McComb