Born in 1759 in Joinville, France, FrancoisDevienne was a virtuoso bassoonist andflautist who also enjoyed a Europeanreputation as a brilliant composer. Amember of the French Guard whose ‘opérascomiques’ were in high demand during therevolutionary years, the Frenchman waslater appointed first flute professor of thenewly established Paris Conservatoire,where he became a much sought?afterteacher. Today he is best remembered forhis prodigious output of wind chambermusic.Grace, formal elegance, melodic originalityand harmonic boldness are just some of thehallmarks of Devienne’s style, all of whichare to be found in the four oboe sonatasthat make up this charming release. Drawnfrom three collections that were probablypublished around the turn of the 18thcentury, the works reflect both the musicaltaste of the composer and the expectationsof the audiences that would havefrequented 18th?century salons – thesettings for chamber music works of thiskind. From fecund imagination and lightnessof touch to vivacity and virtuosicexploration, Devienne’s pieces reveal hisinnate understanding of the inherentpossibilities of the oboe, which dominatesthe musical proceedings with bravura andemotional intensity.Performing these works are three of theleading German instrumentalists of theirday: oboist and former member of theNeues Bachisches Collegium Musicum,Burkhard Glaetzner; harpsichordist ChristineSchornsheim, whose accolades include theDiapason d’Or and Preis der DeutschenSchallplattenkritik; and cellist Siegfried Pank,soloist and former principal cellist of theLeipzig Gewandhaus Orchestra.

Burkhard Glaetzner oboe

Siegfried Pank cello

Christine Schornsheim pianoforte (after Louis Dulcken, c.1815,built by J.C. Neupert, Bamberg)