Pietro Locatelli

12 Sonatas Op. 2/1-6 Vol. 1

These 12 Sonatas for transverse flute and bass were first published in Amsterdam in 1723 to a very positive reception. This can be demonstrated not only by the existence of numerous pirate copies, but also through instances such as the fact that part of the tenth Sonata has been preserved in the fine inlaid work on a table top made of imitation marble belonging to Prince Friedrich von Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt. They show elements of the emerging style galant and are distinguished by surprising turns of phrase and an extraordinary variety of expression. From a stylistic point of view this collection represents a valuable contribution to the genre of the solo sonata, which was at that time gaining pre-eminence over the trio sonata.