Nothing is known of Benoit Guillemant, apart from the fact that he was a maitre de flute, but these rather rococo duets are nicely inventive.
Benoit Guillemant is one of a long list of composers of the eighteenth century French flute school ,which included the likes of J.B. Boismortier, M. de la Barre, M. Blavet and M. Corrette. Very little is known of his life, but he was active in Paris between 1746 and 1757. The present work was printed in 1746.
The title page of this collection of sonatas reads: VI Sonates pour deux flutes traversieres sans bass.Qui peuvent se jouer à deux violins, ou deux pardessus de viole.
Works of this nature were readily transposed during this period to accommodate the recorder’s tessitura. In arranging these engaging style gallant sonatas for recorders, I have followed the standard practice of transposing the original flute parts up a minor third.
This edition is based on a copy held in the Bibliotheque Nationale de France.
(Simon Hanks)
