Of the many trio sonatas written during the 150-year  history of this genre the set composed in  1721–2 by Jan  Dismas   Zelenka  (1679–1745) is certainly among the most striking and unusual.  Extreme both in their dimensions and their demands on performer, they unite  sophisticated  formal designs with exhilarating virtuosity.<br>
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These sonatas appeared in print for the first time  three decades ago in the series “ Hortus  Musicus ” edited by  Camillo  Schoenbaum , a  pathbreaking  publication that ushered in the current  Zelenka  renaissance. Since then recent discoveries  and analyses of the sources have made a  new edition necessary in order to create a performing version that meets  scholarly standards.<br>