Recorder Sonata in D minor, Op.1 No.1

Master Loeillet's elegant French-influenced style
Develop graceful articulation and phrasing
Execute D minor with expressive character
Perfect balance of French and Italian elements

About This Piece

Composer: Jean Baptiste Loeillet of Ghent (1688-1720)

Difficulty: Late Intermediate

Notes Used: D, E, F, G, A, Bb, C, C#, D (high), E (high), F (high), G (high)

Key: D minor

Movements: I. Largo - II. Allegro - III. Adagio - IV. Giga (Allegro)

Movement I - Largo

Elegant opening with French-style nobility and grace.

Movement II - Allegro

Italian-style allegro with clear sequences and brilliant figuration.

Movement III - Adagio

Deeply expressive slow movement with rich harmonic color.

Movement IV - Giga

Lively gigue in compound meter with dance character.

Performance Practice Notes

Loeillet style: Elegant, refined; balance French grace with Italian energy
Ornamentation: Add French-style ornaments in slow movements
Tempo: Largo = ♩ = 50, Allegro = ♩ = 110, Adagio = ♩ = 55, Giga = ♩. = 65
Character: Sophisticated court music; refined expression

Historical Context

Jean Baptiste Loeillet of Ghent (not to be confused with his cousin John Loeillet of London) was a Flemish composer who worked in France. His Op.1 sonatas demonstrate the French influence on Baroque chamber music - elegant, refined, with careful attention to ornamentation and nuance. The D minor sonata balances French nobility in the slow movements with Italian brilliance in the fast movements, creating a cosmopolitan style that appealed to sophisticated audiences across Europe.

Performance Goal: Demonstrate Loeillet's elegant synthesis of French and Italian styles. Play with refined articulation and tasteful ornamentation. This sonata represents sophisticated court music at its finest.