GRAUN, Johann Gottlieb (1702 / 3-1771)
Graun, Sonata in B minor, GraunWV Av:XV:50 (Wend 27).
This subtle and complex work is a significant addition to the rather small repertoire of sonatas for viola da gamba and obbligato harpsichord. The slow, poignant first movement is followed by arhythmically intricate contrapuntal Allegro, and the work ends with an extended sonata movement on a minuet-like theme. The sonata is an arrangement by Frederick the Greats gamba virtuoso Ludwig Christian Hesse of a trio by his concertmaster Graun. It shows the strongly emotional style typical of the composer and his Berlin colleagues,combined with a certain brilliance, but is not techically as demanding as the works which Graun wrote directly for Hesse.
Editor: Michael O'Loghlin.
Continuo realization: Angela Koppenwallner.
