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John Hebden · Six Concertos for Strings

Posted By: enjopin
John Hebden · Six Concertos for Strings

John Hebden · Six Concertos for Strings · Cantilena · Adrian Shepherd
Classical | EAC | FLAC | No LOG, 308 MB
1 CDs | Covers | rs.com | 1988


John Hebden's long obscurity may be explained by the fact that he published only two works, the Six Concertos for Strings and Six Solos for German Flute. He was primarily an orchestral player (with a status inferior to that of a singer) working very long hours to make ends meet. He was also a Yorkshireman in an age when successful composers were expected to be Italian or German.

Cantilena first happened across the name John Hebden while perusing a copy of Jeremy Barlow's edition of Hebden's Sonata No. 1 for flute and keyboard. Unlikely though it was that there would be any undiscovered string repertoire by the composer suitable for Cantilena to perform – English concerti grossi have, in the main, been thoroughly explored by music scholars – the ensemble persevered and were rewarded by the discovery of Hebden's forgotten concertos in the British Library. Nobody had played them for over two hundred years. Hebden's concertos are written in a baroque style obviously influenced by the Italian composer Francesco Geminiani, a contemporary of Vivaldi and Handel. Although Hebden was not an innovator, his imagination harnessed harmony and counterpoint in an original and personal way – suggesting a rugged, determined, highly developed identity. The concertos are full of catchy tunes, and dance rhythms and echoes of English country dances are distinctly discernible through the Italianate texture.

REVIEWS

‘Hebden's counterpoint flows so irresistibly that it seems extraordinary he should have been forgotten for so long… the playing… well conveys Hebden's qualities.’
Gramophone

CD
John Hebden (England, 1712–1765)

Six Concertos for Strings
edited by Ruzena Wood
continuo realisation by Ian Robertso

Concerto No. 1 in A major
Concerto No. 2 in C major
Concerto No. 3 in E major
Concerto No. 4 in E flat major
Concerto No. 5 in C minor
Concerto No. 6 in D minor


FLAC

RS 1 | RS 2 | RS 3