When it comes to the art of the trio sonata no composer surpassed Telemann in quantity or quality. His remarkable ability to draw on current international trends and inventively fashion them for nearly every instrumental combination produced works that are as popular with today’s chamber ensembles as they were in Telemann’s time. The various settings that constitute TWV 42 in particular continue to receive excellent recordings, including this new offering of seven CD-premiere trios performed by The Publick Musick. All of what I described when reviewing the Camerata Köln’s 3-CD CPO collection of 12 selections from TWV 42 (type Q3098 in Search Reviews) can be heard here more concisely, while still offering a healthy glimpse of the composer’s versatility and varied inspirational debts.
For example, Telemann’s trio in E minor nods auspiciously to the French gallante; its second-movement Viste Gay is particularly compelling in its not-quite-dance/not-quite-march ambiguity. The G major trio’s opening Affettuoso and final Vivace are equally intriguing, featuring brisk, propulsive string rhythms reminiscent of either Vivaldi’s or Corelli’s more energetic efforts. However, the most fascinating offering is the brief trio in D minor scored for two scordatura violins and continuo. For those unfamiliar with scordatura, it refers to the practice of intentionally mistuning the instrument either to allow for special programmatic effects or simply to make passages easier or playable (exploited most famously by Telemann’s contemporary Biber). Though Telemann’s exploitation of this technique is relatively modest, he nevertheless skillfully creates a peculiar, strikingly detached ambience, especially notable in the slower first and third movements.
Centaur’s sound is fine, with all instruments well detailed and set in a marginally bright acoustic. Director and principal flutist Steven Zohn’s notes are informative yet happily laced with numerous anecdotes and asides. All fans of Telemann’s chamber music will find much to enjoy here, and listeners especially curious about TWV 42’s remarkable ongoing recorded legacy would do well to also acquire Parnassi Musici’s even more recent CPO collection featuring eight more premieres!
