Works by composers who lived in Amsterdam in the 17th and and 18th centuries: Hellendaal, Locatelli, Sor, Mozart / Carulli and Paganini.

Amsterdam was a centre of musical activity during the 18th century and, along with London, one of the major centres of music publishing.

Dutch composers such as Willem de Fesch and Pieter Hellendael lived in Amsterdam. But Amsterdam also attracted musicians such as the Italian violinist Locatelli, who lived at the Prinsengracht from 1729 for many years.

Although responsible for some of most progressive virtuoso music for the violin of his time, most of his performances at that time were semi public performances in private houses.

Mozart and Paganini did not live in Amsterdam, but Paganini was influenced a lot by Locatelli, especially by the virtuoso use of the violin in the Capricci. Mozart’s works were already popular at the end of the 18th century, and one can imagine that arrangements for violin and guitar, such as Carulli’s arrangement of Mozart’s quintet, were often played in domestic situations.

Programma: 

Sonata in a minor from op. 2       P. Hellendael

Andante, Allegro Assai, Allegro         (1721 –1799)

Sonate in F major                 S. L. Weiss   

Prelude, Allemande, Courante    (1686-1750)              

Sonata  12 in d minor from op. 12    P. A. Locatelli   

Adagio, Allegro, Andante, Allegro, Capriccio (1695–1764)

…………………………………………………………

F. Sor: 2me Fantaisie, composé et dedié á Miss Cornewalle 

(1778 -1839)

Quintetto W.A. Mozart/arr. F. Carulli

(oorspronkelijk: 1e pianokwartet in g moll) (1756– 1791) (1770 – 1841)
                                                        

N. Paganini: Sonata 4 from 6 Sonate op. 3 en Moto Perpetuo

(1782–1840)

Musici 

Ireen Thomas – luit

Het begon op jeugdige leeftijd met de gitaar, maar aan het Koninklijk Conservatorium Den Haag stapte Ireen Thomas (Apeldoon, 1956) over op de luit en studeerde bij Toyohiko Satoh met wie zij later de Catalogue of Contemporary Lute Music publiceerde. Verder droegen cursussen en privéles bij Hopkinson Smith bij aan verfijnd luitspel.

James Hewitt: barokviool

James Hewitt is active in both early and contemporary music, and becoming well known for his engaging personal style and improvisatory  prowess.

He performs throughout Europe, both solo and in ensembles includingContrasto Armonico, the Northern Consort, and the Scroll Ensemble, which specialises in programmes inspired by improvisatory practices of the baroque and was featured in the Leipzig Improvisation Festival 2011. He has participated in several recordings with Contrasto Armonico, associated with an extended project to record all of Handel’s Italian Cantatas, and has broadcast on Dutch Radio 4.
He leads workshops,  such as the dance orchestra and instrumental workshop of Yiddish Summer Weimar, and is associated as an artist for MEMO, giving concerts in schools for young children.