Giuliani: Harp Sonatas - CD

ENGLISH

<br><br>The composer and musician Giovanni Francesco Giuliani (c.1760–1818) lived and worked in Florence during an immense flourishing of creativity during the late 18th and early 19th centuries; this era witnessed, among other events, the founding of Pietro Nardini’s prestigious music school, premiere performances of important new works, and a choir and new instrumental ensembles, all influenced by the creation of a small state court with close links to Vienna. Within this climate, Giuliani worked as an orchestral and operatic violinist and music teacher, and was known for his instrumental compositions.<br /> <br /> Not only is this recording of interest because of its focus on a composer whose work is rarely performed, yet who lived within a time of great musical creativity, harp sonatas were rare during Giuliani’s era, and the repertoire heard here is part of just a few examples of this type of work. While the early sonatas tend to feature the standard instrumental sonata form, later pieces often contain prelude or interlude movements of a freer or improvisatory nature. All, however, are similar in their use of the Galant style, with predictable harmonic and tonal structures, chordal accompaniments, and simple, flowing melodies.<br /> <br /> The repertoire featured in this recording is complemented by the use of an Erard harp from 1818, performed by Lisetta Rossi.<br /> <br /> Other information:<br /> - Rare repertoire, by a relatively unknown composer<br /> - Part of the Tesori Musicali Toscani project, which aims to promote relatively unknown Tuscan music from the 16th to 18th centuries<br /> - Booklet notes included, in English and Italian.