Heinichen: Two concertos

Day 229

Johann David Heinichen: Two concertos

Concerto for Two oboes in E minor

Martin Stadler

Hariett Herrle

Concerto for Flute in D major

Laurence Dean

Fiori Musicali

Thomas Albert

I remember that the advertisers had some fun with the composer’s name when the first recordings of his music were issued - the resemblance to the well known drinks manufacturer was too good to ignore. 

I really enjoyed this music - it seemed to have more personality that the Vivaldi and Telemann that I have listened to so far in this sequence. There was an unpredictability about the music which I found refreshing after the musical wallpaper of the previous two days. Heinichen is not afraid of breaking up the momentum of the music or introducing unexpected elements. Most notable perhaps was the last movement of the flute concerto where there were some surprising rhythmic displacements and some charming pizzicato accompanying figures. This was delightful music.

I don’t know too much about Heinichen but I would certainly be up to listening to some more of his output - I don’t think that he was as prolific as some of his baroque contemporaries so perhaps that makes it less of a daunting prospect.