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Twelve Trios for Transverse Flute Violin on CD

Joseph Haydn: Twelve Trios for Transverse Flute, Violin and Violoncello (2006) Sigiswald Kuijken (violin), Wieland Kuijken (cello) This double-disc reissue combines two releases by Barthold, Sigiswald, and Wieland Kuijken, respectively from 1978 and 1986. The earlier one, especially, dates from the years when historical-performance philosophies were first applied to music of the Classical era, and both recordings have held up well. Barthold Kuijken's gentle transverse flute blends in with the other two instruments in a way that's difficult to achieve with a modern flute. The works are all incidental pieces by Haydn, written for his princely employer at Esterháza. All are in three movements, although the sequence of the three is hardly duplicated at all. They are pleasant examples of background music, with short movements artfully arranged so as to draw the listener's ear to a single affecting detail, and the Kuijkens deliver ingratiating performances without a hint of the severity that sometimes afflicts Baroque specialists playing Classical music.