The Consort
Anthony Robson
Summer 2024
Joseph Bodin de Bosmortier
6 Sonatas Op. 29 for 2 Oboes
ed MICHAEL ELPHINESTONE
Edition HH 581
www.editionhh.co.uk
Born 1689, died 1755, J. B. Boismortier needs no introduction to lovers of the French baroque repertoire. He was highly prolific in most of the then current forms of composition but particularly so in instrumental music and having obtained a royal licence for engraving music in 1724 made a considerable fortune publishing his own works.
These six sonatas for 2 oboes were composed and published in 1730. The title page also claims in smaller text beneath the designation for oboes that they are playable on transverse flutes or violins but this is clearly a marketing technique as the keys used are not entirely typical for the traverso and the lack of use of the g string does not seriously suggest violin material.
The sonatas are all in 4 movements bar the 6th sonata which comprises of 6. All forms of French, German and Italian dance can be found here which would make this collection a fairly comprehensible teaching aid for those wishing to learn these different genres besides being a highly enjoyable experience for more advanced players.
The ranges of the instrumental parts here are perfectly suited to both the period oboe and its modern counterpart and are in a comfortable range as one would expect from the composer. However as well as the alternative instrumentation mentioned on the original title page they would work wonderfully on 2 Descant or Tenor recorders or indeed on Trebles playing with C fingerings making them readily accessible to many would be purchasers.
The edition comprises of a score and two separate instrumental parts, with no difficult page turns and the print size makes for easy reading. There is a comprehensive introduction by the editor Michael Elphinstone which deals most thoroughly with all aspects of the work and the edition.
This beautifully produced volume will find a welcome place in the sparse repertoire gap of duets for two oboes senza continuo and is to be highly recommended.
We are grateful to the The Consort for permission to reproduce this review.
6 sonatas
Full score and parts