12/07/2024
ANOTHER HIGH-SELLING EDITION FROM INSTANT HARMONY
James Paisible, Collected Duets from Manuscripts and Printed Collections for Two Alto Recorders. Edited by David Lasocki
Available as a pdf from www.instantharmony.net and in print from Edition Walhall, Germany.
James Paisible (ca. 1656–1721) was born in France as the son of a Court woodwind player, played briefly under Jean-Baptiste Lully, then moved to England, where he spent the rest of his life, except for briefly following the exiled James II to France. Paisible worked at Court, served as house composer for Princess (later Queen) Anne and her husband, and played the bass violin and recorder in the London theatre bands. According to witnesses, he was the greatest recorder player they had ever heard. David Lasocki has published the remaining recorder music of Paisible’s that had not appeared in modern editions.
“David Lasocki has compiled an extraordinary resource.... All of these pieces would be accessible for an intermediate player, while also providing a variety of musical challenges for advanced players. Many of the sonata movements could be useful for teaching students when and how to shape phrases, ornamentation and sensitivity in playing a tightly composed duet. Both parts are equally important, with the voices often crossing and imitating each other.... This is a great collection! Keep them coming!”
From a review by Bruce Calvin in American Recorder.