Stephen Schultz, called “among the most flawless artists on the Baroque flute” by the San Jose Mercury News, “flute extraordinaire” by the New Jersey Star-Ledger, and praised for performances of “stunning warmth and agility” by the Los Angeles Times, is joined by harpsichordist Jory Vinikour. Twice GRAMMY® nominated, and hailed as “…an authentic poet of the harpsichord” by Denni Republik (Czech Republic), his performances have received raves in Gramophone and elsewhere. The four sonatas recorded here belong to a type of chamber music that was at the cutting edge of developments during the 1720s and 1730s: the duo for melody instrument and obbligato harpsichord. One might alternatively describe such works as trios, since the harpsichordist’s right-hand part is musically equal to the melody instrument’s part, their exchanges being accompanied, as it were, by a third musical line in the left-hand harpsichord part.
