Flighty music Unusual repertory with two flutes, as heard by BASIL RAMSEY Claves    CD 50-2006

Perhaps the thought of two flutes gives rise to feelings of flighty music with no underpinning. This quality of music and playing needs to be heard, and reveals two very nimble flautists (Peter-Lukas Graf and Gaby Pas-Van Riet) with Bruno Canino's continuo and notated accompaniments as of such finesse that I quite marvel at the accomplishment.

First, the selection of music brings little-known pieces to our attention: a Bach sonata, and duos and trios of 17th and 18th century origin. I would covet ownership of this record if I heard it elsewhere, so my thoughts of presentation to readers gives me no reservations. First, of course, is the predominance of flutes, often at a high altitude, so they dominate. Given that, and reassurance of the overall effect, this CD is truly flavoursome. Here's an extract from the last movement of Bach's G major Trio for two flutes [listen -- track 4, 0:00-0:55].

The selection creeps up chronologically to the Doppler brothers composing in the late 19th century with one of those popular medleys of opera lollipops, but I do so delight in Kuhlau's Trio in G, which is opus 119 in his formidable list of works [listen -- track 10, 0:00-0:48].

Unexpected maybe, but all the tracks are pleasurable and several tempt much repetition.

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Record Box is Music & Vision's regular Wednesday series of shorter CD reviews