Hotteterre: Complete Chamber Music Vol. 2

Camerata Köln

CPO 777867

Jacques Hotteterre's six Trio Sonatas op. 3 form the focus of Vol. 2 of our complete recording of his chamber compositions. For generations the members of the Hotteterre family were oboists (Bass)oonists, flutists, and musette players who were important personalities in the French music world. In his special occupation with the Italian style Hotteterre initially modified the sound picture with an instrumentation with flutes and as a direct consequence of this measure »translated« the treatment of the parts into French. He avoids overly quick passages and extroverted affections, writing instead in a style that is intimate and discreet and in part also theatrical. With respect to their form the trio sonatas likewise are situated in an intermediary stylistic position. Although all the pieces are in four movements in keeping with the Italian sonata da chiesa, French goût complements their outer structure as Italian trio sonatas and manifests itself in the their tone, predilection for subtle affections, mainly homophonic writing style, and overall cyclical integration of French dances such as the courante, sarabande, gavotte, and gigue. In this way, despite his great italianità, Hotteterre Le Romain remains a committed Frenchman.

CD x 1

CPO

2/24/15

761203786725