Quantz: Flute Concertos, Rachel Brown, Brandenburg Consort, Roy Goodman

FLAC

QUANTZ Flute Concertos: No. 256 in A; No. 5 in b; No. 216 in c; No. 290 in G; No. 29 in g · Rachel Brown (fl); Sally Jackson (bn); Roy Goodman (hpd; fp), cond; Brandenburg Consort · HYPERION CSA66927 (76:06)

In erudite notes, flute soloist Brown describes Quantz's life and work, admirably explaining the genesis and the historical and social contexts of the five works here recorded. They come from among 300 or so concertos for flute and strings with continuo that Quantz composed, mostly for Frederick the Great. These five, recorded in 1996, appear to have been performed from manuscripts located in Berlin. Two of the works properly fall into the late Baroque period; for these, a harpsichord forms part of the ensemble. The three later pieces may be considered early classical works; in them, a fortepiano is used. Two of the concertos feature as well comparatively minor bassoon obbligato parts in the slow movements. I won't again get into the ongoing battle over modern versus original instruments. Suffice it to say that period instruments are used here; that the pedigrees of the flute, harpsichord, and fortepiano are supplied; that in these performances, A = 415 Hz; that lute, theorbo (archlute), and guitar are variously employed; and that the results are quite marvelous. There are recordings of Quantz concertos with modern flutes for those who are into high tech all around. Highly recommended for both musical and historical reasons, but with one caveat: none of my four machines would play the first seven seconds of this unusually long CD, even though I tried all the usual tricks. Prospective purchasers may wish to sample the first track in the store.

John Lambert