Jean Daniel Braun is not a composer whose works are widely performed, nor is there much information about his life and compositions. The date and location of his birth are not well documented, but it is thought that he was born in Alsace, the eastern-most region of France. His death was recorded as occurring on April 2, 1738, making his birth likely in the late 17thcentury. In his autobiography, Johann Joachim Quantz mentions meeting Jean Daniel Braun and his brother, Jean Frédéric Braun, during his six-month visit to Paris between August 1726 and March 1727, which is really the only affirmative mention about Braun and his activities during his lifetime. In addition to being active as a flutist and composer, Jean Daniel Braun was also a music publisher in Paris, the result of his receiving a ten-year royal privilege to print several of his own works. This royal privilege, which served as an early form of copyright, allowed him to publish his first collection; a set of Sonatas for Flute with Basso Continuo in 1728. He went on to publish ten more collections of his own compositions, the majority of which were for flute and continuo, with some notable exceptions, including a set of 6 sonatas for two bassoons or other bass instruments. Jean Daniel did not personally publish the last volume of his works, Sonata a flûte traversière et basse suivie de differentes pièces sans basse[1]it is thought that Jean Frédéric Braun discovered the manuscript, assumed them to be composed by his brother, and saw them to publication under his brother?s name.[2]

These suites, while not originally written for cello, sound well-suited to the instrument and present some unique technical challenges that do not normally present themselves in the cello repertoire, including multiple rapid shifts in quick succession and rapid large interval leaps. In the 18th century, it was very common for works to be transcribed for and performed on other instruments. Braun's novel use of a treble clef in one key and a bass clef in another at the beginning line of each of the 5 suites (the 2nd Suite excepted, however, it does have a note for bass instruments to transpose to the appropriate key at the beginning), is proof that Braun did not have a single instrument in mind for these suite. It is therefore fitting that these suites should and can be performed on the cello.

There are two versions of the suites in this edition. The first is as it appears in the edition at the Bibliotheque Nationale de France (Paris). The bowed version provides the editors suggested bowings that are more suited to performance on cello.



[1]David A Wells, liner notes from Twenty Four Solos by Jean-Daniel Braun, Nadina Makie Jackson, 2011
[2]Jean Daniel Braun, Sonata a flûte trabersière et basse suivie de differentes pièces sans basse. Paris 1740

Foreword by Marcello Castellani, tr. Elsa and Amedeo Stolfi, and Aaron Haas

Archivum Musicum: L?Art de la flûte traversièreVol. 23 Florence: Studio Per Edizioni Scelte, 1982

Beethoven Sonata Op. 49 No. 2 arranged for flute quartet. Duration: ca: 10:15 Score: 30 pages, 242 measures. In two movements. A great recital piece to demonstrate nuances of the flute quartet.

Sonata Op. 49 No. 2
Arranged from Beethoven?s Piano Sonata No. 20, this isa simple but interesting work in two movements showing the composers sense ofhumor. The first movement ?Allegro ma non troppo? and the second movement?Tempo di Menuetto? are both in the key of G. Both Sonatas 19 and 20 (op. 49,No. 1 & 2) are named ?Easy Sonatas? because they are technically easierthan the usual Beethoven Sonatas. This makes them very popular among studentsand teachers alike.

BeethovenBackground
Ludwig vanBeethoven (1770 ?1827) was certainly a German pianist. Aboveall, he was probably one of the greatest composers in history. As a result, heis a pivotal character in the progress between the Classical and Romantic periods.He is certainly one of the most famous and hence important of all composers.Seems like his most familiar and noteworthy works include symphonies 1-9; pianoconcertos 1-5; and furthermore, the violin concerto. Also, certainly of extremeimportance are the noteworthy 32 sonatas for the piano; the string quartets1-16; the Missa solemnis; and likewise, his only opera, Fidelio.

Beethoven Overview
First of all, Beethoven was born andconsequently raised in Bonn. Upon turning 21 he moved to Vienna probablyto study composition with Haydn. That?s when he consequently grew areputation as a brilliant pianist. Furthermore, he probably stayed in Viennathe rest of his life. In his late 20s it seems like his hearing certainly beganto decline. It slowly declined until consequently he was nearly totally deafprobably by the last decade of his life. As a result, he stopped conducting andperforming. Nevertheless, he continued to compose. As a result, some of hisgreatest works probably come from this period.

First Period
Seems like we often divideBeethoven?s life into three periods. Period 1 begins with Beethoven?s arrivalin Vienna. Hence, during this period, he mastered the Viennese style of Haydn& Mozart. He consequently began increasing the size and scale of his works.Furthermore, he experimented with extreme dynamics, and likewise extreme tempi.He worked similarly with chromatic harmony. His First and Second Symphoniestherefore belong to this period. Other important works also belong here: the firstsix string quartets and the Sonata Pathétique, Op. 13.

Second Period
His second period probably began assoon as he realized that he was going deaf. During this period, it seems likehe became obsessed with the idea of heroism. His works consequently become evenlarger and more massive. The most noteworthy of these include the symphonies 3? 8, piano concertos 5& 6, 5 string quartets, several important piano sonatas(Waldstein and Appassionata), the Kreutzer violinsonata, the violin concerto and his only opera: Fidelio.

Third Period
In contrast, Beethoven's thirdperiod is branded above all by works of incredible intellectual depth, formalinnovation, and penetrating expression. It seems like he continued to expandhis works. Consequently, the string quartet Op. 131 spills over into sevenconnected movements. Likewise, in the Ninth Symphony he adds choral forcesto his orchestra probably for the first time in history. Even more, otherworks from this period include his Missa solemnis, the final 5string quartets (including the enormous Große Fuge) and the finalfive sonatas for piano.

Duration: 4:55, Score: 6 pages, Solo part: 1 page, piano part: 2 pages. A very famous aria (Ombra mai fu) from "Xerxes"
Suitable for any venue requiring meditative music. Excellent choice for a recital encore.

Xerxes
Xerxes is, in fact, an opera seria in three acts by Handel. Moreover, Handel conducted the premiere performance in London in 1738. Handel casts the opera in Persia in 470 BC. The part of Xerxes was indeed originally sung by a soprano castrato. Nowadays, the part is generally sung by a mezzo-soprano or conversely a counter-tenor. In the first place, Xerxes sings an opening aria, Ombra mai fu to a plane tree. Handel sets this aria to one of his most truly famous melodies. Although many refer to it traditionally as Handel?s ?Largo,? Handel has, on the contrary, clearly marked "Larghetto" in the score.

Handel Background
George Frideric Handel (1685 - 1759) was born in Germany, but eventually became a British citizen. Nonetheless, he was a famous Baroque composer. In fact, he became famous for his operas, oratorios, anthems, and organ concertos. Handel studied music and, by and large, worked as a composer in Germany and Italy before moving to London. On the whole, Handel was very familiar with the contemporary music of Italy and Germany.

Career in England
It is important to realize that Italian opera was all the rage in England at the time. Moreover, Handel was really good at writing them. Therefore, he started not one but three opera companies in England. Alexander's Feast was a huge success in 1736, but Handel nevertheless began composing English choral works. After success with the Messiah in 1742) he certainly never again wrote an Italian opera. Consequently, he died in 1759, a treasured genius. Accordingly, the English government gave him full state honors at his funeral. Hence, he is buried in Westminster Abbey in London.

Legacy
Music historians agree that Handel was in general one of the greatest composers of the Baroque era. To demonstrate, his works such as the Messiah, Water Music, and Music for the Royal Fireworks remain consistently popular up to the present time. He especially composed the coronation anthem, Zadok the Priest for the coronation of George II. Nevertheless, it has specifically been performed at every succeeding British coronation since. His oratorio Solomon has by all means also continued to be prevalent. As a matter of fact, the Sinfonia from act 3 was featured the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony. Handel was particularly prolific. To enumerate, he wrote over forty operas. Since the late 1960s, we have expressly experienced a revival of baroque music. Similarly, we have especially seen a pique of interest in historically informed musical performance. Since his death in 1779, interest in Handel's music has, all in all, expanded.



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