Pietro Castrucci - Sonata Nr. 3 for recorder and b.c.

Pietro Castrucci (1679 - 1752)
Sonata nr. 3: 1. Adagio - 2. Allegro
Elsa Capella, organ
Clara Cowley, recorder
Other than having a most unfortunate surname, there really isn't much to say about Mr. Castrucci. Italian composer, virtuoso violinist, zombie. That's pretty much the gist of it. Being, as it seems, quite wealthy, he was also one of the first leaders of the Royal Academy of Music and one of the first beneficiaries of the British Royal Society of Musicians - some guys just have all the luck. But what in the world, you might wonder, was he doing in England? That, my dear friends, might be answered quite easily with this simple parabel: What to do when you fall madly in love with a deeply traditional and inherently local French cheese when, by one of those twists of life, you live in Chicken, Alaska? Why, you import it, of course. Well, back in the good ol' 1700s, Italian musicians were like, well, French cheese. Probably smelled like French cheese, too. My point being, they were imported by British and German nobility and other important people of means.
After that, legend tells he pulled off a Houdini-esque, riches-to-rags vanishing act. He was reported dead in 1746, only to give a - posthumous, we presume - benefit concert in 1750. Forget French cheese, that appearance must have left quite an impression. He then somehow managed to contract malaria while living in Dublin - a feat to be admired! - and died, again, in 1752, impoverished, no doubt due to his undead status and his uncanny ability to catch tropical diseases in Ireland.
And though his life took a - well, actually two - sad endings, is funeral march was composed by no one less that G.F. Handel, who sent him off in style.

[@flamenfloralis]

Impressive interpretation , charming and delightfull!

[@jackhousman6637]

Charming combination of instruments. Very nice. Merci.

[@Marianofrv]

delightful interpretation thank you

[@mrbigarms]

I love the use of chamber organ to accompany the recorder here, the usual harpsichord / cello continuo can often overpower a treble recorder.

[@jm-music557]

Beautiful ;)

[@SCK586]

I love the clarity of detail being given precedence in the first movement ....Not a fan of the mad steeplechase approach at any point though ...