Product Description

Johann Christoph Friedrich’s Six Sonatas “für das Clavier mit Begleitung einer Flöte oder Violine” (for any keyboard with accompaniment of a flute or violin) were written some time before 1776 and printed and published in Riga in 1777.  

The French word “Clavier” on the cover page of the printed score was used in a broad sense for any keyboard instrument during the 18th century. “Clavicembalo” and “cembalo” referred to plucked instruments but others, including the popular new square piano, could be used as well. The melody instrument part, specified “Flauto Traverso”, does not “accompany” the keyboard but is rather an equal partner which complements, entwines and frequently introduces the musical ideas.

The keyboard part of the printed edition uses the soprano c – clef, a common mid-18 century practice. The scarceness of articulation marks and dynamics in the keyboard part allow players to perform the music according to the instrument at their disposal, their own taste and the dialogue with the flute. As is often the case, the ornaments of the flute part and those of the keyboard melody do not necessarily correspond, providing some scope for reflection and improvisation.

Written in standard three movement form, these sonatas are cheerful and pleasant, with many movements having an obvious dance character. All but one end with a minuet & trio and three have a polonaise as second movement. The one exception is the d minor, the only sonata in a minor key, its second movement alternates between the melodious flute sections accompanied by the keyboard, and solo keyboard recitatives.

Ashley Solomon

Active as a soloist and chamber musician Ashley Solomon is the director of Florilegium, and much of his time is spent performing with this ensemble that he founded in 1991. They regularly perform at major international festivals and concert series and have made 37 recordings for Channel Classics, many of which have garnered international awards. 

As a soloist, he has performed worldwide, including concertos in venues including the Sydney Opera House, Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), Concertgebouw (Amsterdam) and Konzerthaus (Vienna). 

Since 2003 Ashley has been training vocalists and instrumentalists in Bolivia, working on the remarkable collection of music held in archives by the Moxos and Chiquitos Indians. In 2008 he was the first European to receive the prestigious Bolivian Hans Roth Prize.

Combining a successful career across both theory and practice, Ashley Solomon is Head of Historical Performance at the Royal College of Music, having been appointed a professor in 1994. In 2014 he was awarded a Personal Chair and in July 2017 he was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Music (FRAM). He became a Fellow of the Royal College of Music (FRCM) in 2019.

Jochewed Schwarz

Early keyboard instruments player Jochewed Schwarz performs in her homeland Israel and abroad, especially in venues devoted to the preservation and presentation of playable historical instruments. Passionate about chamber music she created and leads various early music concert series. An experienced continuo player, she gladly joins chamber ensembles and orchestras in concerts. 

Her performances and recordings in harpsichord-duo DuoChord with fellow-harpsichordist Emer Buckley are receiving considerable attention from both the public and music critics. DuoChord specializes in reviving the well documented but hitherto neglected late 17th and 18th century practice of performing on two keyboards chamber music originally written for other instruments.

She is also currently working on the publication of forgotten music manuscripts composed by Israeli cellist and composer Joachim Stutschewsky as well as researching harpsichord playing and historical performance practice of Early Music in British Mandate Palestine, with special focus on harpsichord player Frank Pelleg.

Ashley and Jochewed share an appreciation of historical music instruments, insistence on understanding the music written for them as well as its cultural background and the desire to present music long forgotten, implementing their rich experience and gathered knowledge.

Instruments

Ashley Solomon, Baroque flute by Martin Wenner, 2005 (after Carlo Palanca c. 1750)

Jochewed Schwarz, square piano by Johannes Zumpe and Gabriel Buntebart, London 1769. The Cobbe Collection Trust, Hatchlands Park.