Born in Bergamo on 3 September 1695, Pietro Antonio Locatelli studied with Corelli in Rome. In 1725 he was appointed chamber virtuoso at the court of Mantua. He also performed as a violinist in the entourage of the Elector of Saxony, for example in Kassel in 1728, Berlin in 1729 and Amsterdam, where he settled permanently in 1730. As a violin teacher, composer and music publisher, he was both respected and wealthy there. Locatelli died on 3 March 1764 and was buried in the Beguinage in Amsterdam. We know from his estate catalogue that he owned two transverse flutes and a ‘Flûte d'Amour’. His Opus II, 12 sonatas for ‘Flauto traversiere’ and basso continuo, also shows that he was very familiar with the transverse flute. The present work is taken from Opus V, published by the author himself in Amsterdam in 1746. The title of the opus, which contains six sonatas, explicitly states that they can be played with two violins as well as two flutes. There is also nothing to prevent it being scored for violin and flute. This original version remained unchanged when it was saved.
Like many of Locatelli's compositions, this trio sonata also differs from the works of his Italian contemporaries in its unconventional originality. It is also particularly easy to play, as it is dedicated to a dilettante, the city secretary of Amsterdam, M. Lestevon, a pupil and patron of the composer. It will also delight music lovers of our time, not least because of the pastoral middle movement.
Content:
- Andante
- Largo, Andante
- Allegro
- Vivace
