Countless wealthy people in eighteenth-century Europe developed a passion for botany. This passion went far beyond the simple pleasure of gardens, reflecting rather a growing fascination with the natural world. German composer Georg Philipp Telemann shared this passion and energetically cultivated his collection, often begging friends and correspondents to send him specimens. The creative landscape of Telemann's life was undoubtedly filled with floral and musical colour. Ensemble Hesperi, a period ensemble based in London, presents a programme that celebrates Telemann's botanical passion. His published correspondence shows that he often wrote to his musician friends abroad, asking them to send him plant specimens. Among these friends were George Frideric Handel and Johann Gottlieb Graun, each of whom is represented here by a trio sonata, and there is also music by Telemann himself: one of his difficult 'Paris Quartets', a raucous sonata in G minor and a haunting fantasia for solo recorder. In a letter to a friend, Telemann spoke of his passion for hyacinths, tulips, ranunculi 'and especially for anemones'. The composer of four instrumental collections containing floral musical miniatures, James Oswald had to be part of this programme, and so we are treated to 'The Hyacinth', 'The Anemone' and 'The Tulip' from his 'Airs for the Spring'.

Tracklist:

Anemone, from Airs for the Spring (1755)~Air (Allegro spiritoso)
Anemone, from Airs for the Spring (1755)~Andante (con affetto)
Sonata No. 1 in B minor, HWV 386b~I. Andante
Sonata No. 1 in B minor, HWV 386b~II. Allegro ma non troppo
Sonata No. 1 in B minor, HWV 386b~III. Largo
Sonata No. 1 in B minor, HWV 386b~IV. Allegro
Fantasia No. 9 in E major, TWV 40:10 (transposed to G major)~I. Affettuoso
Fantasia No. 9 in E major, TWV 40:10 (transposed to G major)~II. Allegro
Fantasia No. 9 in E major, TWV 40:10 (transposed to G major)~III. Grave
Fantasia No. 9 in E major, TWV 40:10 (transposed to G major)~IV. Vivace
Sonata I in A major, TWV 43:A1~I. Soave
Sonata I in A major, TWV 43:A1~II. Allegro
Sonata I in A major, TWV 43:A1~III. Andante
Sonata I in A major, TWV 43:A1~IV. Vivace
Hyacinth, from Airs for the Spring (1755)~Cantabile (Andante)
Hyacinth, from Airs for the Spring (1755)~Allegro moderato
Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99~I. Largo
Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99~II. Allegro
Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99~III. Andante
Trio Sonata in D major, WV Cv:XV:99~IV. Vivace
Tulip, from Airs for the Spring (1755)~March (Moderato)
Tulip, from Airs for the Spring (1755)~Allegro moderato
Tulip, from Airs for the Spring (1755)~Hornpipe (Vivace
Trio Sonata in G minor, TWV 42:g9~I. Soave ma non adagio
Trio Sonata in G minor, TWV 42:g9~II. Vivace
Trio Sonata in G minor, TWV 42:g9~III. Largo
Trio Sonata in G minor, TWV 42:g9~IV. Allegro

UPC: 7318599925080
Label: Bis
Release Date: 1.3.25
Format: CD

Handel / Telemann / Ensemble Hesperi - Gift for Your Garden (CD)