Three's Company

Extending the tradition of the Baroque Concerto Grosso, composers often experimented with pitting combinations of solo instruments against a string orchestra. Often this was the result of particularly fine players in court orchestras around Europe. Interesting sonorities and textures resulted.
In this concert we explore works with groups of three six and nine solo players.
Telemann was a great exponent of the multi-soloist works and we have a characteristic suite, 'Darmstadt Ouverture in G minor'  TWV 55:g4  for 3 oboes and strings and a Concerto in A major TWV 53:A2 for Flute, Violin, Cello and orchestra.
Fasch wrote many varied multi-instrument works represented here by an Ouverture in D minor FWV K:d2 for 3 Oboes, 3 Flutes and orchestra
Jinárek was a Czech composer who likely studied with Vivaldi and later worked in Dresden where he wrote music for that progressive and virtuosic orchestra.
Bach's six Brandenburg Concertos, of course, probably represent the apotheosis of the multi-instrument concerto and in number 3 we have  3 violins, 3 violas and 3 cellos weaving intricate patterns and sonorities.