Bonporti: Sonatas Op.2 for 2 Violins and B.C.

Francesco Bonporti (1672-1749) lived for the largest part of his life in Trento, his native town. He studied in Rome, and was influenced by Arcangelo Corelli, whose style of imitative counterpoint he invests with dramatic elements. His fame spread over Europe and the great Johann Sebastian Bach transcribed for harpsichord some of his violin sonatas.

The complete Sonatas for 2 Violins & B.C. Op. 2 consist of 4 dance movements, the allemande, corrente, sarabande and gigue or gavotte. The first violin is mainly predominant, the other two instruments usually providing the accompaniment. The faster movements require virtuoso skills from the performers while the slow movements flow in sensitive and slightly melancholy melodic lines.

The Italian group Labirinti Armonici specialises in the performance of undiscovered Baroque music, it consists of two violins, cello and harpsichord/organ.