Customer Reviews

Boyce: Trio Sonatas

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I took a risk on this double CD because I am a great admirer of Simon Standage and Collegium Musicum 90. Like many people, the only music by Boyce that I knew was his Eight Symphonies which I feel somewhat lukewarm about, so I was surprised to find that I loved this set of twelve Trio Sonatas. They are full of melody, grace and charm and also genuinely poignant in places. Beautifully crafted and varied, I found the entire programme a complete delight, and these discs have become firm favourites.

The music glows and sparkles in the hands of the four musicians from CM90 playing here: Simon Standage and Micaela Comberti (violins), Jane Coe (cello) and Nicholas Parle (harpsichord). They are technically excellent, have a real delight in the music and an obvious pleasure in playing together. The recorded sound is excellent and the notes are very readable and informative.

If, as I did, you think of William Boyce as a solid, reliably English member of that group of decent but rather ordinary composers Between Bach and Mozart, these Trio Sonatas will be a revelation. They are an out-of-the-way group of completely unexpected gems. Very warmly recommended.

If you enjoy a wide range of baroque music, this is a fine choice to compliment Italian and German baroque classics. A bit more structured than Italian, but more flexible than German.

If you enjoy a wide range of baroque music, this is a fine choice to compliment Italian and German baroque classics. A bit more structured than Italian, but more flexible than German.