The Art of Domestic Music

The Art of Domestic Music: From Gainsborough's Salon

Painter Thomas Gainsborough (1727-1788) was a keen amateur musician, and his household was known for hosting musical gatherings. Gainsborough himself played the viola da gamba, while his daughters played instruments such as the harpsichord and theorbo. He painted several musicians, including Johann Sebastian Bach's son, Johann Christian (1735-1782), and another German composer, Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787), as well as Felice Giardini (1716-1796), an Italian composer, all of whom worked in London. This program features music specifically designed for home performance, precisely the kind of music that would have been played in the Gainsborough household and includes a couple of hitherto unknown harpsichord trios by Valentino Nicolai.

Sara Deborah, baroque violin
Carina Drury, baroque cello
Masumi Yamamoto, harpsichord

Johann Christian Bach (1735-1782)
Sonata for the Harpsichord with Accompaniments for a Violin and Violoncello Op.2 No.5 in A Major

Felice Giardini (1716-1796)
Sonata for Harpsichord and Violin Op. 3 No. 6 in D Major

Valentino Nicolai (fl.1775-1798)
Trios for the Harpsichord with Accompaniments for a Violin and Bass Obbligato No. V in C Major

Felice Giardini
Duo pour violon et violoncelle

Valentino Nicolai
Trios for the Harpsichord with Accompaniments for a Violin and Bass Obbligato No. II in F Major

Carl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787)
Sonata for the Harpsichord with Accompaniments for a Violin and Violoncello No. III in D Major