This was Christopher Hogwood’s first record for L’Oiseau Lyre and this issue marks its first international CD release.

Whereas Arne’s career lay primarily in the theatre (his melodic gifts ensured success not only in Italianate opera, but in masque and pantomime as well), an appointment in 1754 as composer to the Vauxhall Gardens meant that he needed to exercise his talents in song writing as well as keyboard concertos.

Rarely recorded, the eight harpsichord sonatas (all Arne ever composed in this genre) are a delight. The Italianate influence of Scarlatti, Zipoli and Alberti are present, but there is also something of the gallant style of German writers.

For this recording, the original 1756 edition was used and the recordings were made on Kirkman (1766) and Blasser (1744) harpsichords.

Christopher Hogwood provides a new introductory note to this issue as well as notes on the music and the instruments used.