Quantz: Solos from the Giedde Collection

Quantz’s solos for flute greatly extended the technique of the instruments, with their frequent large leaps.

The Royal Library in Copenhagen contains a manuscript headed “Fantasie og Capricier af Quantz”, which contains 60 pieces. Of these 18 are short studies with continuo, mostly quite easy. The remaining 42 unaccompanied pieces seem to fall into two sections: the opening section consists of 23 fantasias and caprices, many of which are in a rather more obviously rococo style than the Braun pieces, and which are technically and stylistically quite demanding.

The final section of the manuscript includes many of the pieces from the Braun print, and three sets of variations rather similar to those composed by Michel Blavet, who apparently made a big impression on Quantz in Paris in 1727. I have had to be quite selective with the fantasias and caprices, some of which will not work at all on the recorder.

(Bernard Thomas)