A French overture necessarily preceded every performance mounted at the French court in the late 17th century. As developed by Lully, this typically Baroque entrance...

A French overture necessarily preceded every performance mounted at the French court in the late 17th century. As developed by Lully, this typically Baroque entrance music fit for the King was played by fairly large forces. Characterized by double-dotted rhythms, the solemn, stately outer sections framed a fugal allegro and flaunted, as it were, royal dignity, grace and power. The overture introduced selections from that evening’s performance but soon was combined with a type of collection of dances that had been evolving since the 16th century. The word “overture” originally designated the first movement but in time synecdochically yielded its name to the entire suite. This release features two Suites that are staples in the flute repertoire- Bach’s Suite No. 2 in B minor and Telemann’s Suite in A minor, performed by flutist Julius Baker, keyboardist and conductor Anthony Newman, and the Madeira Festival Orchestra.