One thing that has
always intrigued me is why there are
more child prodigies in music than in
any other field. Writers need some life
experience before they are able to become
successful, or write anything meaningful
to others, painters invariably need
the same, so how come that such a large
minority of composers can write music
that speaks to generations of people
at such a young age. Indeed often their
interpreters are just as young. Rossini
wrote the six string sonatas at the
age of twelve in the space of three
days in 1804 at the home of Agostino
Triossi, the son of a wealthy family
of grain merchants. They were first
heard at one of the many musical soirées
held during that summer when Rossini
was staying there at Triossi’s invitation.
Rossini must have possessed
formidable talent and to have been able
to produce music easily for he left
his autographed manuscript at the property.
Years later he confessed that he presumed
that the compositions had been used
as wrapping paper for salami! However,
they were soon in circulation in various
versions and have always proved popular.
There is an infectious
feeling of joie de vivre about them
all and it is difficult not to smile
while listening to them. These lively
and happy sounding compositions were
the "light music" of their
time but there’s no mistaking the highly
inventive and creative mind that penned
them. They are delightful works played
here by a group of players that clearly
enjoys them.
The two-disc set also
includes Rossini’s Prelude, theme and
variations for horn and piano written
53 years after the sonatas but possessing
the same sunny mood. Rossini’s father
was a horn player and he wrote for the
instrument throughout his career. This
piece shows the full potential of the
horn. There are one or two slight "fluffs"
in this performance but they didn’t
spoil it for me and I was pleased to
have heard it for the first time.
Rounding the set off
is the Larghetto, theme and variations
for violin and piano by Donizetti, a
delightful work in which the two instruments
share the music as equals. They complete
a set of compositions full of sparkle
and a feeling of life-enhancing well-being.
Steve Arloff