Corelli's chamber music was reprinted 84 times during his lifetime and 31 more during the rest of the 18th century, a record most composers would envy even today. The Sonatas of Ops 1 and 3 are da chiesa, those of Ops 2 and 4 are dacamera (with dance-titled movements). They are small gems: most have four movements, and their durations range from five and a half to seven and a half minutes, within which they pack a wealth of invention, pure beauty and variety of pace and mood. Surviving evidence suggests that they were played at a much lower pitch than today's standard, the lower string tension adding warmth and opulence to the sound. Catherine Mackintosh takes full advantage of the works' opportunities for pliant phrasing and added embellishments; Elizabeth Wallfisch 'converses' with her in her own characteristic way, while Catherine Weiss follows her example more closely. The Purcell Quartet's oneness of thought and timing is a joy to hear and the recording is superb in all respects.