Chaconne en Trio for Flute and Organ

Edition Dohr brings us another pleasant arrangement of a baroque work, this time by French composer, Jacques Morel. Little is known about Morel, except that he lived from c. 1690-1740 and studied the viola da gamba with Marin Marais. The original instrumentation for this work was flute, viola da gamba and basso continuo. In this duo arrangement by Heinz-Peter Kortmann, the organ plays both the figured bass and the viola da gamba part, retaining the original dialogue between the flute and viola da gamba.

As the title suggests, the form of the piece is structured around a repeating four-bar bass line (G-D-E-C-D-G). It starts in G major, characterised by a dotted rhythm melody in the flute which is answered by the organ. Expressive suspensions feature as the music modulates into the relative minor. The bass line occasionally drops out to give way for exchanges between the two melodic lines. The central section is in G minor and gives us a moment of reflection and a more sombre mood.

Unlike the more famous Bach Chaconne, although also quite lengthy, this piece doesn't build to any exciting peaks, but rather meanders through before ending in G major. As this is written for flute and organ and of an intermediate level, this music would work well as background music in a church. A chaconne in the hands of composers like Bach and Marin Marais can take the listener on a journey of emotions and wonder, but for me, this one sadly doesn't.