Haydn's 400-plus arrangements of Scottish, Irish, Welsh and English folksongs, most of them for voice and piano trio, re among the most charming pieces he ever composed. This form of "Hausmusik" attained an unprecedented popularity in Haydn's lifetime, and he benefited not only in terms of growing admiration, which was already great in Britain, but financially as well. The collections encouraged, moreover, numerous emulators, among them Pleyel, Kozeluch and later Beethoven and Weber.
This CD (Canterino 1021) presents 12 arrangements of popular Scottish songs by Haydn (6 of them "realized" by the ensemble's pianist Richard Fuller), 6 purely instrumental arrangements and Haydn's Piano Trio in A-Major Nr. 32. The songs, which are among the most casual pieces Haydn ever composed, allow ample opportunity for sensitive and exuberant performances - including a good measure of spontaneous improvisation - by Klaus Mertens, Richard Fuller, Andrew Manze and Jaap Ter Linden.