Boismortier, JB :: Petite Sonates op. 13

Petite Sonates op. 13

Boismortier, JB

"Boismortier was the most prolific composer of flute music in the first half of the eighteenth century in France. Although he was not a flutist, almost half of his numerous compositions were directed either specifically at the flute or at various treble instruments among which the flute was included. Boismortier was the first composer to write extensively in the sonata genre for both flute and continuo and two unaccompanied flutes as well as the first to adopt the Italian concerto genre in works for from two to five flutes. His flute sonatas and concertos mark the beginning of the turn toward these genres in French flute music, and they undoubtedly influences other composers who moved in the same direction at this time. Although Boismortier wrote in the solo, duet, and trio settings of his predecessors, he also devised many new combinations of instruments - among them, three flutes alone, three flutes with bass, and five flutes alone or with bass. He was also the first French composer to write for flute and a fully realized harpsichord part." - Jane Bowers