Duetto

(original for 2 baroque lutes)
An agreeable and unchallenging exponent of the gallant style, Adam Falckenhagen (1697-1761) has never occupied centre stage but nor has he been entirely off the radar in recent years. In 2004, lutenist John Schneiderman released a whole CD of his works (CG Feb 2006), although this level of exposure remains rare. Incidentally, Peter Danner's programme notes to the Schneiderman recording are insistent that Falckenhagen died in 1754, dismissing 1761 as the date shown in 'earlier accounts'. But 1761 is the date given in this 2011 publtcatlon, which is why it was quoted in the first sentence of this review. If anyone out there can provide evidence as to who's right and who's wrong, the CG letters' page is at your disposal. Transposed from F major to E major and in this edition advising the F# tuning throughout, the present Duetto is a compact and unpretentious three-movement offering that should be well within the range of a pair of reasonably experienced amateurs. On a professional level, it could make a decent listener-friendly opener, especially if a sufficiently brisk tempo is adopted in the central Allegro. An honest slice of middle-grade late baroque that deserves the occasional airing.

Paul Fowles (Classical Guitar Magazine)