ARCANGELO CORELLI
The ‘Assisi’ Sonatas

The 12 Assisi Sonatas
(Anhang 38-49)

01 Sonata no 9 in B flat major
02 Sonata no 10 in G minor
03 Sonata no 4 in C major
04 Sonata no 5 in A minor
05 Sonata no 1 in D major
06 Sonata no 2 in A major
07 Sonata no 3 in D minor
08 Sonata no 6 in G major
09 Sonata no 8 in C minor
10 Sonata no 7 in F major
11 Sonata no 12 in A major
12 Sonata no 11 in E major

Other Sonatas from the Anhang group:

13 Sonata Anh. 34 in D major
14 Sonata Anh. 33 in A major
15 Sonata Anh. 36 in D major
16 Sonata Anh. 35 in A minor

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About this CD

The rich, beautiful violin tone, and unhurried yet thoughtful tempi of Enrico Gatti have been heard often in the music of Arcangelo Corelli. For Glossa he has now recorded the “Assisi” Sonatas for violin, 12 Sonate da camera à violino e violoncello solo, which it is believed that Corelli wrote prior to committing his Op 1 Trio Sonatas for publication in 1681, and quite possibly when the composer was still in Bologna.

If Corelli has passed into history as one of the most influential composers of instrumental music, as well as being a teacher of great renown, his published output was limited in size and so Gatti’s espousal (and that of Guido Olivieri’s, the booklet essay writer) of these sonatas as being by Corelli is to be welcomed. The solo sonatas recorded here – which appear in a manuscript from the Franciscan monastery in Assisi – possess characteristics of mid-17th century Bolognese sonata production as well as elements very typical of Corelli’s style, adequately sufficient for Enrico Gatti, always scrupulous in his response to such questions, to be assured of Corelli’s authorship.

Four additional sonatas from manuscript sources can be as well attributed to Corelli and are also included on this recording. Joining Gatti in his Ensemble Aurora for this recording, made last year in celebration of the 300th anniversary of Corelli’s death, are cellist Gaetano Nasillo and harpsichordist Anna Fontana.