Triosonate e minor

Johann Christoph Pepusch (1667 - 1752) was a German born organist and composer who lived and worked for a large part in England. After his studies he became organist at the Prussian Court, and attained celebrity as a profound theorist and practical musician. An incident at Court in 1697 (he was eye-witness of the summarily execution without any form a trial of an officer because of insubordination) caused him to leave Germany. He made England his home for the rest of his life. There he did much to advance the progress of music in England. He found a job as a viola player, and then as a harpsichordist at the Drury Lane Theatre. Later he became the music director for the wealthy nobleman James Brydges (later the Duke of Chandos and also an employer of Handel). Pepusch's finest vocal music is found in his secular cantatas, written in the Italian mold with alternating recitatives and ensemble passages. However, the melodic style of these works tends to be English. These works became quite popular in his time.

The bulk of Pepusch's compositions are instrumental; among them over a hundred sonatas with several dozens sonatas for two solo instruments and basso continuon. Several of these can be easily adapted to make and attractive Triosonata for organ. The Triosonata in e minor, presented today is one of those sonatas. Originally written for viola da gamba and flute, it has four parts, in the familiar arrangement slow, fast, slow, fast. The slow pieces are lyrical and not difficult to play. The fast parts are a bit more demanding, yet well worth the trouble of practising them.

Score available here: http://partitura.org/index.php/johann-christoph-pepusch-triosonate-e-moll