Alison Luthmers - J.H. Roman: Assaggi for Solo Violin (CD)

'The father of Swedish music' and 'the Swedish Handel' are two descriptions of Johan Helmich Roman one of Sweden's most important composers. About as cosmopolitan as you could get, he spent six years in Handel's orchestra at the King's Theatre, and his extensive travels around Europe brought him into contact with fellow composers in France, Italy and Germany. London was home to many composers from mainland Europe, notable among them, not only Handel, but Francesco Geminiani. Roman composed around twenty Assaggi (Assaggio has been translated as 'sample', 'essay', 'study' or 'experiment') and they range from multi movement works to single movements, with some surviving as just fragments. They were composed in the 1730s, and they were published, making it very likely that the composer intended them to be performed. If they were intended to be exercises, then their composer possessed a formidable technique. They are also beautifully written for the violin and reveal a startling musical imagination at work.

Track List:

Disc: 1

1. Assaggio in E minor BeRI 312I.
2. Assaggio in E minor BeRI 312II.
3. Assaggio in E minor BeRI 312III.
4. Assaggio in E minor BeRI 312IV.
5. Assaggio in E minor BeRI 312V.
6. Assaggio in A major BeRI 301I.
7. Assaggio in A major BeRI 301II.
8. Assaggio in A major BeRI 301III.
9. Assaggio in A major BeRI 301IV.
10. Assaggio in G minor BeRI 314I.
11. Assaggio in G minor BeRI 314II. (Allegro)
12. Assaggio in G minor BeRI 314III.
13. Assaggio in G minor BeRI 314IV. (Non troppo Allegro)
14. Assaggio in G minor BeRI 320I.
15. Assaggio in G minor BeRI 320II.
16. Assaggio in G minor BeRI 320III.