Instrumental Works from the Library of the Royal Conservatories, Brussels

Book excerpt: Brussels native Petrus Hercules Brehy (1673–1737) composed twelve sonatas for two violins, viola, basso viola, and continuo around 1715–22, and two sonatas for five instruments and continuo approximately ten years later, all during his tenure as zangmeester of the Collegiate Church of SS. Michael and Gudula. Since 1929 the autograph manuscripts have been conserved at the Library of the Royal Conservatories of Music, Brussels. Unlike Brehy’s earlier symphonias, these were not published during his lifetime and were written to be played by a mix of professional musicians, able clerics, and older choirboys. Six of the twelve sonatas for four instruments and continuo reflect the earlier polyphonic ensemble sonata da chiesa of the late seventeenth century, four feature the violin in more flamboyant soloistic passagework, and two contain elements of both idioms. The two sonates à 5 are consistent with the late Baroque international style. All the sonatas in this volume reflect the somewhat conservative religious style of a Habsburg Empire territory capital during the early eighteenth century.