Giuseppe Tartini / Donald Crockett: To Be Sung On The Water

Giuseppe Tartini (1692-1770) was one of the most widely accomplished musical figures of the 18th century, a brilliant violinist and highly influential pedagogue - and also a visionary scientist researching acoustic phenomena. His 30 piccole sonate are late works when Tartini had achieved a compressed, refined expressivity largely relinquishing the outward virtuosity of his famous "Devil's Trill" Sonata.

After performing the 7th sonata from this collection on ECM's Elogio per un'ombra, Makarski has now chosen three more characteristic examples. These solo sonatas alternate with two pieces by American Donald Crockett (born 1951) composed for Makarski and viola player Ronald Copes who joins her on the first of them. 'To Be Sung on the Water' is a duo for violin and viola with muted strings conveying an intense melancholic atmosphere, while Mickey Finn is a very lively speaking monologue, a virtuoso piece echoing both Bach and Ysaÿe which is performed in masterly fashion on this premiere recording.

Recorded 2004

Personnel:
Michelle Makarski (violin), Ronald Copes (viola)

Sonata IX A Major

1. Largo Andante - 4:11

2. Allegro - 1:56

3. Allegro Assai - 1:34

4. Menuet - 1:27

5. Allegro - 3:07

6. To Be Sung On The Water - 11:30

Sonata II d Minor

7. Siciliana - 3:24

8. Allegro - 2:09

9. Allegro Affetuoso - 3:29

10. Mickey Finn - 9:58

Sonata XIII b Minor

11. Andante - 4:15

12. Allegro Assai - 2:17

13. Giga. Allegro Affettuoso - 2:56