Frans Brüggen Edition / Frans Brüggen

For today’s younger generation, the image of Frans Brüggen is that of a conductor. Of course, this is true, but many people today may not know that his career originally began as a recorder player and flutist. I can still recall the shock I felt when he first appeared on the scene of ancient music. In a sense, his performance was a style that broke the common sense of the time. The world was divided into two camps: those who liked him and those who did not accept him. The two camps were the “Brüggen School” and the “Linde School. People of my generation may have some idea of this.

The Japanese flutist Masahiro Arita (who is also my teacher) recalls that he started playing the flauto traverso because he heard a traverso by Brüggen on a radio program. The piece was Handel’s Trio Sonata in B minor. I can see why. The piece begins with a striking start, as if the flute is “sighing” over a descending passage bass. When you hear this, you feel as if you have been transported to another world. The Stanesby Junior instrument that Brüggen plays in this performance was later given to Arita and he has played it for long time. Doesn’t this sound like a story of fate? This CD collection gives a bird’s eye view of the recorder and flute works played by Brüggen, according to genre. It is also interesting to see how his playing style has changed over time. #baroque #Brüggen #片山俊幸