Hoff Ensemble, Winter Quiets Nigts

James Oswald was born in 1710 in the village of Crail in Fife to John Oswald, a town drummer frequently jailed for drunkenness and public swearing, the younger Oswald quickly developed a talent for music. By 1734 he was active as a cellist, dancing master, and composer in Dumferline and Edinburgh. His early works, including a sonata based on Scots tunes, were published under two Italian pseudonyms, “Dothel/Dottel Figlio” and “David Rizzio.” A move to London followed shortly thereafter, where Oswald opened a music shop and became a music publisher in addition to his more creative endeavours.

Hans Werner Henze has written in virtually every standard musical form, but his chamber music is generally not among his best-known work. The composer is especially fond of the guitar and has included it in a number of his scores. This album, originally released in 1995, includes three pieces written between 1974 and 1986 that prominently feature the guitar, and one, Royal Winter Music II: Second Sonata on Shakespearean Characters, is for solo guitar.