Muriel Rochat Rienth
Händel: Complete Recorder Sonatas
- Type CD
- Label Vanitas
- UPC 8436556730528
- Catalog number VA 08
- Release date 19 February 2016
About the album
G.F. Händel: The Complete Recorder Sonatas
What greater gift can be for a recorder player that the Sonatas for recorder and basso continuo by Händel? During my studies in the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis I fell in love with this masterpiece of the German composer, written in 1725/26 for “private use” of the British royal family. Under the strict supervision of my recorder teacher and despite of be practicing during months with a very high discipline, articulation, ornamentation and diminutions, I was amazed hoping someday to have the opportunity or record this opus magnum.
Since the first moment I had very clear that such a big project would be realized just with two instruments: recorder and harpsichord, without any extension of the basso continuo in order to give to each instrument more importance. In Andrés Alberto Gómez, who shared my concept full of enthusiasm, I found a perfect solution. So that way two soloists joined and easily worked together. Rehearsing the first time we notice a great harmony between us, also referred to the comprehension of the score. Further the performing and the art of improvising of Andrés fitted very well with my own way of make music.
Remembering my first’s steps with the recorder, at the age of 7th I fell in love with its peculiar sound, always admiring its possibilities. I was also conscious that my dear recorder was very often unfairly disparage by many people due to its limited tessitura or because its little expressivity. In fact I have made myself the question if I would like to play finally a “real” instrument. Maybe for that reason I have dedicated all my live to the recorder, except some experiences related to singing and harp (and the obligatory harpsichord during my studies) always in order to use my favorite instrument beyond a mere tool for beginners.
I have try in this recording to transmit all my musicality and intensity, showing the different characteristics of the “flauto dolce”, covering volume, legato, moments of delight, melancholy or virtuosity.
Thanks to my excellent luthier, the Swiss Ernst Meyer, I have become a real “sound explorer”, constantly looking for an optimum sound. One of my challenges that define my personality as a musician has been to show a great variety of colors in my flutes, trying to reach moments of great emotion or even a meditative character. Maybe this recording shows a little sample of my continuous searching.
Finally I would like to dedicate this CD to my recorder teacher at the Schola Cantorum Basiliensis, Michel Piguet (1932 – 2004), a real pioneer in early music and admired by his recordings of the Händel sonatas. He opened me those musical treasures conveying me his enthusiasm.
In the same way I would thank the support during recordings to my husband, the tenor Felix Rienth, with whom I have performed numerous concerts and has been present at all times as musical assessor in this recent adventure.
MURIEL ROCHAT RIENTH.
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11Sonata in G Minor HWV 360 I. Prelude
00:48 -
12Sonata in G Minor HWV 360 II. Larghetto
02:08 -
13Sonata in G Minor HWV 360 III. Andante
02:50 -
14Sonata in G Minor HWV 360 IV. Adagio
00:57 -
15Sonata in G Minor HWV 360 V. Presto
01:45 -
16Sonata in C Major HWV 365 I. Larghetto
02:40 -
17Sonata in C Major HWV 365 II. Allegro
02:16 -
18Sonata in C Major HWV 365 III. Larghetto
02:18 -
19Sonata in C Major HWV 365 IV. A Tempo di Gavotti
02:03 -
110Sonata in C Major HWV 365 V. Allegro
02:30 -
111Sonata in A Minor HWV 362 I. Larghetto
02:50 -
112Sonata in A Minor HWV 362 II. Allegro
02:30 -
113Sonata in A Minor HWV 362 III. Adagio
02:05 -
114Sonata in A Minor HWV 362 IV. Allegro
03:09 -
115Sonata in F Major HWV 369 I. Preludio
01:49 -
116Sonata in F Major HWV 369 II. Larghetto
02:26 -
117Sonata in F Major HWV 369 III. Allegro
02:39 -
118Sonata in F Major HWV 369 IV. Siciliana
01:26 -
119Sonata in F Major HWV 369 V. Allegro
01:54 -
120Sonata in B-Flat Major HWV 377 I. Andante
01:52 -
121Sonata in B-Flat Major HWV 377 II. Adagio
01:29 -
122Sonata in B-Flat Major HWV 377 III Allegro
02:20 -
123Sonata in D Minor HWV 367a I. Largo
02:19 -
124Sonata in D Minor HWV 367a II. Vivace
02:45 -
125Sonata in D Minor HWV 367a III. Furioso
02:04 -
126Sonata in D Minor HWV 367a IV. Adagio
01:40 -
127Sonata in D Minor HWV 367a V. Alla Breve
01:35 -
128Sonata in D Minor HWV 367a VI. Andante
02:04 -
129Sonata in D Minor HWV 367a VII. A Tempo di Menuet
01:08