Improvisation does not belong only to the realm of jazz. Musicians in the Baroque era also improvised abundantly. The twelve Violin Sonatas, op.2 by Florentine composer Francesco Maria Veracini offer a clear look at the performance practice of his own music. Unlike many Baroque composers, Veracini was remarkably precise about when a musician should literally stick to his notes and regulations and
… where more freedom was allowed. Sometimes he even left open the instrumental interpretation of certain parts. Violinist Eva Saladin, together with cellist Daniel Rosin and harpsichordist Johannes Keller, has plunged into Veracini's unique violin sonatas with audible pleasure. The three of them present an energetic anthology of these. Some may marvel at the selection of merely individual sonata parts. This is entirely to Veracini's liking. The composer writes about it that "two or three sections chosen at his own discretion are sufficient to form with them a sonata of certain length. Only the famous twelfth sonata sounds integral. The first and last two movements frame the complete album and create a nice tension arc. Intriguing is the Scottish folk music-based particle Scozzese, in which the musicians really hit their stride with flair and schwung. (JWvR)more
