J.S. Bach Complete Sonatas for Flute & Piano
Julie Scolnik flute
Sophie Scolnik-Brower piano
When Johann Sebstian Bach composed his flute sonatas, the flute was in its infancy as a replacement for the popular recorder. Nevertheless, his musical genius rings out as richly layered harmony and emotions exude from each fluently written piece on J.S. BACH COMPLETE SONATAS FOR FLUTE & PIANO. On this two-disc recording, the mother-daughter duo of flutist Julie Scolnik, lauded by the Boston Globe for her “urgency full of fire that melts into disarming delicacy,” and pianist Sophie Scolnik-Brower further amplify Bach’s expressiveness, swapping the usual harpsichord for piano to deepen the dynamics and phrasing throughout the compositions.
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Track Listing & Credits
| # | Title | Composer | Performer | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Disc 1 | ||||
| 01 | Sonata in C major BWV 1033: Andante - Presto | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 1:42 |
| 02 | Sonata in C major BWV 1033: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 2:26 |
| 03 | Sonata in C major BWV 1033: Adagio | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 1:36 |
| 04 | Sonata in C major BWV 1033: Menuett I and II | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:18 |
| 05 | Sonata in G minor BWV 1020: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 4:01 |
| 06 | Sonata in G minor BWV 1020: Adagio | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:00 |
| 07 | Sonata in G minor BWV 1020: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 5:05 |
| 08 | Sonata in E minor BWV 1034: Adagio ma non tanto | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 2:50 |
| 09 | Sonata in E minor BWV 1034: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 2:53 |
| 10 | Sonata in E minor BWV 1034: Andante | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:55 |
| 11 | Sonata in E minor BWV 1034: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 4:57 |
| 12 | Sonata in A major BWV 1032: Vivace | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 4:59 |
| 13 | Sonata in A major BWV 1032: Largo e Dolce | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 2:42 |
| 14 | Sonata in A major BWV 1032: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 4:07 |
| Disc 2 | ||||
| 01 | Sonata in E flat major BWV 1031: Allegro Moderato | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:42 |
| 02 | Sonata in E flat major BWV 1031: Siciliano | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:28 |
| 03 | Sonata in E flat major BWV 1031: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 4:31 |
| 04 | Sonata in B minor BWV 1030: Andante | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 7:31 |
| 05 | Sonata in B minor BWV 1030: Largo e Dolce | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 4:08 |
| 06 | Sonata in B minor BWV 1030: Presto | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 5:54 |
| 07 | Sonata in E major BWV 1035: Adagio ma non tanto | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 2:32 |
| 08 | Sonata in E major BWV 1035: Allegro | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:18 |
| 09 | Sonata in E major BWV 1035: Siciliano | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:31 |
| 10 | Sonata in E major BWV 1035: Allegro assai | Johann Sebastian Bach | Julie Scolnik, flute; Sophie Scolnik-Brower, piano | 3:24 |
Recorded in 2021 at Fraser Performance Studio, WGBH, in Boston MA
Producer & Engineer Antonio Oliart Ros
Photos by Seungoh Ryu
Executive Producer Bob Lord
A&R Director Brandon MacNeil
VP of Production Jan Košulič
Audio Director Lucas Paquette
VP, Design & Marketing Brett Picknell
Art Director Ryan Harrison
Design Edward A. Fleming, Morgan Hauber
Publicity Patrick Niland, Aidan Curran
Artist Information
Julie Scolnik
Flutist Julie Scolnik’s tonal enchantment and communicative gifts have captivated audiences in America and France. The Boston Globe writes that “she plays with an urgency full of fire that melts into disarming delicacy,” and a French critic from La Provence praises “her vast palette of sultry colors and magical phrasing.” Scolnik has enjoyed a diverse musical career as a soloist, chamber musician, and orchestral flutist. As a guest flutist at festivals across the United States and France, Scolnik has collaborated with countless world-class artists and chamber groups that include the Brentano, Arabella, and Borromeo String Quartets. She is active as a soloist and for many years presented an annual fall recital at the Salle Cortot in Paris. She currently offers concerts each summer in Provence.
Sophie Scolnik-Brower
Pianist Sophie Scolnik-Brower’s innate grace and musical sensitivity have moved audiences across the United States and abroad. Her playing has been called “soulful artistry that underlines gorgeous harmonic change.” She has performed extensively at the Perlman Music Program, La Jolla Music Festival, Aspen Music Festival, the American Conservatory at Fontainebleau, and the Pablo Casals Festival. She is a member artist of Mistral Music and a frequent guest on WCRB Radio in Boston.
Notes
A Note from Julie Scolnik
I have known and loved these sonatas for almost as long as I have loved music, and they feel like members of my family.
I remember vividly when and where I learned each one for the first time — from the G minor sonata that I first played at age 13 at a music camp in Maine to the B minor sonata I performed for my master’s recital at the New England Conservatory. Over the years I remember often reaching for the Andante movement from the E minor sonata for its perfect embodiment of bittersweet emotion, when I needed a poignant offering at a friend’s wedding or memorial service.
Recording these essential works of the flute repertoire has long been a dream of mine. Although there is no shortage of recordings of these Bach sonatas, the majority of them are with harpsichord. I always knew I wanted to record them with piano, for its greater range of expression in dynamics and phrasing. And I always knew that I would record them with my daughter, Sophie, my very favorite collaborator, whose sensitive artistry inspires me. It gives us great pleasure to be able to share our interpretation of these beautiful sonatas.
— Julie Scolnik
