On the Occasion of the Belgium’s King’s Day
Jan De Winne is one of the most brilliant virtuosos of the traverso flute – a musician, musicologist, and master craftsman of historical instrument replicas. Drawing on historically informed performance practice, he founded the renowned ensemble Il Gardellino, which for over three decades has revealed the rich diversity of 17th- and 18th-century European music.
This concert invites listeners on a journey through the musical world of the 18th century, a time when travel gained new meanings and profoundly influenced the lives of composers and performers. At its heart is the traverso flute, the wooden predecessor of the modern transverse flute. With its soft, vocal timbre and elegant construction, the traverso reached the height of its popularity in this period. It was championed by Johann Joachim Quantz, whose 1752 treatise Essay of a Method for Playing the Transverse Flute (Versuch einer Anweisung die Flöte traversiere zu spielen) remains one of the most important sources for understanding the instrument’s technique and expressive potential.
The traverso’s refined sound demands great mastery – precise control of intonation, a deep understanding of articulation, and a command of rich ornamentation. In skilled hands, it can convey the subtlest dynamic nuances, essential for expressing the elegance and sensitivity of the galant and empfindsam styles.
The program spans the key stylistic directions of the 18th century, from the grandeur of the mature Baroque to the clarity of early Classicism, with a special focus on the expressive galant and empfindsam styles.
The concert opens with Andante and Allegro from Concerto in G by Belgian composer Joseph-Hector Fiocco, honouring the celebration of Belgium’s King’s Day. A captivating dialogue between different concerto forms follows – the orchestral Third Brandenburg Concerto by Johann Sebastian Bach, and traverso Concertos by Franz Benda and Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach. Together, they illuminate the evolving musical aesthetics of the 18th century, culminating in the emotionally charged empfindsam style, which highlights the traverso’s vocal qualities and expressive range.
The Kyiv Chamber Orchestra of the National Philharmonic of Ukraine, renowned for its refined interpretations across periods, will perform in the historically appropriate tuning of A = 415 Hz, ensuring a perfectly balanced partnership with soloist Jan De Winne.
With the support of the Embassy of the Kingdom of Belgium in Ukraine.
Programme:
Joseph-Hector Fiocco — Andante and Allegro from Concerto in G
Franz Benda — Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in E minor, L 2.4
Johann Sebastian Bach — Brandenburg Concerto No. 3 in G major, BWV 1048
Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach — Concerto for Flute and Orchestra in D major, Wq 13, H 416