Angelo Ragazzi: Sonate a Quattro, Band I (Sonata 1 - 6)

Naples, at the turn of the XVIIIth century, was the capital of Southern Italy and Sicily, and the home of orphanages which functioned as superlative music schools providing the city with first-rate musicians. Consequently the Neapolitan court orchestra was one of the best musical ensembles in Europe. Ragazzi received musical training in the S. Maria di Loreto orphanage and later attained the position of concertmaster of the Neapolitan court orchestra.

The works at hand, though they are entitled Sonate a Quattro, can be described as violin concertos, which thanks to formally experimental combinations of Sonata, Solo Concerto and Concerto grosso achieve a varied and delightful musical effect. The solo violin part is technically demanding.

Edited by Christoph Timpe

Band I

Sonata I     in G   Allegro - Grave - Allegro
Sonata II    in c    Allegro - Aria Adagio - Allegro
Sonata III   in B    Vivace - Aria Adagio - Allegro           
Sonata IV   in f    “Imitatio in Salve Regina, mater misericordiae” - Andante - Adagio - Allegro
Sonata V    in A    Allegro - Adagio - Allegro            
Sonata VI   in g    Allegro - Aria un poco Andante - Vivace

CD recording : Musica Napoletana, Accademia Per Musica, C. Timpe, Capriccio 49546