Hasse was one of the most prominent composers of music
for the theatre in Europe during the half a century before Gluck
initiated the reform of opera. He was widely admired for the
smoothness and elegance of his melodic writing. He has to his
credit a very large number of theatrical works as the list in
New Grove shows. In comparison the number of instrumental pieces
is rather limited. He wrote much more, as Charles Burney reported:
"The duets, the trios, the quartets, and the concerts for
instruments were so many that he himself would not have been
able to recognize them when listening or looking at them".
The publishing house Breitkopf in Leipzig had collected most
of his chamber music with the aim of publishing Hasse's complete
works. Unfortunately Frederick the Great of Prussia bombarded
Leipzig during the Seven Years War, and a large part of Hasse's
music was destroyed in December 1760. The irony of having one
of his strongest admirers responsible for destroying a large
part of his musical output did not escape Hasse. According to
Burney he commented that he was sure that had Frederick had
the chance he would have informed him that Leipzig was going
to be bombarded, in order to give him the opportunity to save
his compositions.
It is also Burney who hits the nail on the head when he
describes Hasse's music thus: "In his compositions the
intention of pleasing the ear and of satisfying the intellect
is evident, leaving to the vain and the pedantic everything
that strikes, stupefies and puzzles." This is exactly the
feature of the music on this disc. Don't expect any deep feelings
or thoughts here. There are no themes which catch the ear, no
striking harmonies, no melodic surprises; just an hour of musical
entertainment.
The three trio sonatas are from a collection of pieces
for two flutes or violins with basso continuo. One of them was
found in a manuscript in an adaptation for oboe and violin,
which is the version played here. The ensemble decided to adapt
the other two trio sonatas in the same way. This is in line
with a widespread practice in the 18th century. The oboe sonata
comes from a collection of solo sonatas for flute or violin.
Originally for violin is the sonata in e minor, the fifth from
the Solos op. 5, published in London in 1744. This is the only
sonata which delivers a little more than just entertainment.
The most striking piece as far as its scoring is concerned
is the quartet for chalumeau, oboe, bassoon and bc in F. In
particular the part of the chalumeau is remarkable, as the instrument
was mainly used in orchestral music, but hardly ever in chamber
music. Also notable here is the part of the bassoon, which plays
the role of an obbligato instrument and supports the harpsichord
in the basso continuo as well.
The ensemble Epoca Barocca understands what it takes to
entertain the audience. They don't 'pump up' the music and don't
make it sound more weightier than it is. The ensemble playing
is immaculate, and the choice of tempi convincing. I would have
preferred to hear at least one of the trio sonatas in its original
scoring, for example with flute and violin. It would have made
this disc a little more varied as far as the instrumental colour
is concerned.
This disc is certainly not a 'must have', but if one looks
for a recording with entertaining music of the 18th century
which hasn't been recorded umpteen times before, this is an
excellent choice. Apart from that it pays attention to an aspect
of a celebrated composer otherwise largely neglected.
Johan
van Veen