Album insights
Boyce solidified his prominence as one of England's leading musicians with the 1747 release of his Twelve Sonatas for Two Violins with a Bass. Born in 1711 to a carpenter in London, Boyce gained musical education under Maurice Greene and John Christopher Pepusch after being a chorister at St. Paul's Cathedral. By 1736, still in his twenties, he was appointed as the composer of the Chapel Royal. Notable works like his 1740 opera Peleus and Thetis and the 1742 serenade Solomon, alongside the Twelve Sonatas, garnered him public acclaim.
Boyce's Twelve Sonatas arrived during a period when the trio sonata form seemed to have waned in England, contrasting the revival of the concerto grosso. Boyce's collection contributed significantly to this revival, with 487 artists requesting copies and using them for both professional and amateur orchestras across Britain and America. Burney's observations deemed Boyce's sonatas as prominent chamber music works, resonating in public performances for years.
The Twelve Sonatas exhibit a diversity of styles, divided into two discernible groups. Odd-numbered sonatas feature orchestral structures requiring the power of an orchestra. In contrast, even-numbered sonatas lean towards intricate, virtuosic solo instrument-driven styles. Moving between orchestral and solo works, a delicate balance is struck, as seen in the selection process for this CD's inclusion.
The composition patterns of the sonatas deviate from traditional structures, demonstrating a fusion of church and chamber styles with a range of forms. The styles within the Twelve Sonatas fluctuate from Corellian and Handelian influences to more modern approaches. Boyce's music maintains a quintessentially English character, evident in the evocative Largo of No. 10 and the charming Affettuoso closing No. 6.
In summary, Boyce's musical legacy is marked by a unique blend of influences, ranging from the classical to the modern, all while retaining a distinct English quality in his compositions. Burney rightly emphasized the originality and solidity of Boyce's creations, underlining the composer's mastery in maintaining a clear, distinct style that sets his works apart.