Carl Friedrich Abel (1723–1787) was a German composer and virtuoso of the viola da gamba, remembered as one of the last great exponents of the instrument. Born in Köthen, he was the son of Christian Ferdinand Abel, a musician in the court orchestra once directed by J.S. Bach. Abel’s early exposure to music within this distinguished environment shaped his refined style and command of counterpoint, while his career later flourished in London, where he became a prominent figure in the city’s cultural life.
Abel is best known for his partnership with Johann Christian Bach in organizing the famous Bach-Abel Concerts (1765–1781), the first subscription concerts in London, which greatly influenced the city’s musical culture. These gatherings introduced audiences to both established and contemporary works, laying foundations for the public concert tradition. Abel’s music reflects the elegance and clarity of the galant style, bridging the late Baroque and early Classical periods. His compositions emphasize lyrical melody, balanced phrasing, and transparent textures, qualities that made them appealing to both connoisseurs and amateur performers.
This 3CD set offers reissues of successful Brilliant Classics recordings with works by Abel: works for flute and orchestra, a symphony, concertos for harpsichord, viola da gamba and orchestra, trio sonatas and sonatas for viola da gamba and B.C.
Performers include Nordic Affect (Georgia Brown), La Spagna Baroque Orchestra (Alejandro Marías) and viola da gamba player Marco Casonato and Massimo Marchese (Theorbo).
“Affectionate explorations of seldom performed pieces by mid-18th century composer” (BBC Music Magazine about Nordic Affect).
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto for Flute and Strings No. 5 in G Major: I. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto for Flute and Strings No. 5 in G Major: II. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto for Flute and Strings No. 5 in G Major: III. Presto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 6: I. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 6: II. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 1 in C Major, Op. 6: III. Vivace
Carl Friedrich Abel: Trio Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 3: I. Vivace
Carl Friedrich Abel: Trio Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 3: II. Adagio ma non troppo
Carl Friedrich Abel: Trio Sonata No. 1 in G Major, Op. 3: III. Menuetto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 6: I. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 6: II. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 3 in E Minor, Op. 6: III. Vivace
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto for Flute and Strings No. 2 in E Minor: I. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto for Flute and Strings No. 2 in E Minor: II. Adagio ma non troppo
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto for Flute and Strings No. 2 in E Minor: III. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 7: I. Allegro assai
Carl Friedrich Abel: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 7: II. Andantino
Carl Friedrich Abel: Symphony No. 1 in C Major, Op. 7: III. Allegro
Disk 2
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 1 in C Major, WK 141: I. Vivace
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 1 in C Major, WK 141: II. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 1 in C Major, WK 141: III. Minuetto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 2 in A Major, WK 142: I. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 2 in A Major, WK 142: II. Siciliano
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 2 in A Major, WK 142: III. Minuetto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Vivace in D Major, WK 190
Carl Friedrich Abel: Piece in D Major, WK 193 – Minuet
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 3 in D Major, WK 143: I. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 3 in D Major, WK 143: II. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 3 in D Major, WK 143: III. Minuetto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WK 144: I. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WK 144: II. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 4 in G Major, WK 144: III. Minuetto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Piece in D Minor, WK 206 – [Minuet]
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 5 in A Major, WK 145: I. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 5 in A Major, WK 145: II. Andante
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 5 in A Major, WK 145: III. Minuetto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 6 in E Minor, WK 146: I. Moderato
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 6 in E Minor, WK 146: II. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Sonata No. 6 in E Minor, WK 146: III. Minuetto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Untitled Piece (Pembroke Manuscript) [in diesen heilig’n Hallen]
Disk 3
Carl Friedrich Abel: Symphony in C Major, Op. 10 No. 4, AbelWV E22: I. Presto
Carl Friedrich Abel: Symphony in C Major, Op. 10 No. 4, AbelWV E22: II. Andante
Carl Friedrich Abel: Symphony in C Major, Op. 10 No. 4, AbelWV E22: III. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Aria “Frena le belle lagrime” from Sifari, AbelWV A8:1
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto flauto traverso concertato in E Minor, AbelWV F14 (Viola Part Reconstructed by Wolfgang Kostujak): I. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto flauto traverso concertato in E Minor, AbelWV F14 (Viola Part Reconstructed by Wolfgang Kostujak): II. [Adagio]
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto flauto traverso concertato in E Minor, AbelWV F14 Viola Part Reconstructed by Wolfgang Kostujak): III. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto violo de gambo in A Major, AbelWV A9:1A (Reconstructed by Wolfgang Kostujak): I. Allegro moderato
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto violo de gambo in A Major, AbelWV A9:1A (Reconstructed by Wolfgang Kostujak): II. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto violo de gambo in A Major, AbelWV A9:1A (Reconstructed by Wolfgang Kostujak): III. Allegro
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto a cembalo obligato in D Major, AbelWV F7: I. Moderato
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto a cembalo obligato in D Major, AbelWV F7: II. Adagio
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto a cembalo obligato in D Major, AbelWV F7: III. Allegro assai
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto a viola da gamba concertata in G Major, AbelWV A9:2 (Edited by Thomas Fritzsch and Günter von Zadow After AbelWV F17 and F24): I. Moderato
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto a viola da gamba concertata in G Major, AbelWV A9:2 (Edited by Thomas Fritzsch and Günter von Zadow After AbelWV F17 and F24): II. Adagio ma non troppo
Carl Friedrich Abel: Concerto a viola da gamba concertata in G Major, AbelWV A9:2 (Edited by Thomas Fritzsch and Günter von Zadow After AbelWV F17 and F24): III. Allegro
