Flemish Early Keyboard Music:
Fiocco
Joseph-Hector Fiocco (1703-1741) born in Brussels, was a composer and harpsichordist of the late Baroque period. His father, the Italian composer Pietro Antonio Fiocco, and one of his older step-brother Jean-Joseph Fiocco gave him much of his musical education. He also learned Greek and Latin and became a school teacher in both those subjects.
His "Pièces de Clavecin" consist of twelve pieces in each of two Suites. The music was dedicated to the Duke of Arenberg, and they incorporate French and Italian styles. The pieces are accessible and harmonically straightforward. The first suite begins in the style of Couperin and ends with four Italian-style movements: Adagio, Allegro, Andante, and Vivace. The second suite is more French is style and begins with a beautiful Allemande.
These pieces deserve to be better-known. When performed on the piano, it is an advantage to vary the material on the repeats, making the second appearance slightly more elaborate or altering the melody line a little.
I have recorded the two suites and they are on disc 2022b.
ND/Nov 2022
