Mancini, F: Recorder Sonata No. 1 in D minor

This is a recording of Spanish music from the period of the first 15 years of the 18th century, composed during the War of the Spanish Succession. The composers represented include Porsile, Valls, Mancini, Cladara and Rabassa. It is a collection of cantatas, sonatas and songs. Performed by the expert Grupo de Musica Barroca La Folia, directed by Pedro Bonet, this is a fine collection of Spanish period music performed and played with exquisite style and taste.

Francesco Mancini (1672-1737) was born in Naples, and worked initially as an organist at the Cappella Reale, an institution he would direct some years later until he was replaced by Alessandro Scarlatti in 1708.

Mancini composed many concertos and sonatas, and the works on these CDs were first published in London in 1724. The music contained in these sonatas displays Mancini’s gift for great expressivity and lyricism. The material is developed skillfully in ways that often lead to considerable tension and drama.

The spirit of the dance is never far away from the finales and often contrast with the tense and dramatic opening movements and the long slow movements.

Period instrument performances.

Very rare repertoire of interest to early-music connoisseurs.

Charming flute music to appeal to the MOR market.

Recordings date from 2009, 1996 and 1992.

Booklet notes.