‘Johann Jeremias du Grain ranks among the most important 18th-century composers of Gdan´sk,’ begins the booklet-note to this release. ‘He appears to have been a composer of some craft but limited imagination,’ concludes the New Grove entry on him. In between those end-points we learn that he was possibly either French or born to French parents, studied under Telemann in Hamburg and sang as a bass soloist in his cantatas, moved to Elbing and then to Gdan´sk (or Danzig as it was then), where he became organist at the church of St Elisabeth and mounted public concerts, at one of which he died from a stroke in 1756.

Until recently only Du Grain’s vocal music was known but now out of the Berlin Staatsbibliothek have emerged these three harpsichord concertos, works which we must assume once formed part of his concert repertoire. Listening to them I find little reason to disbelieve either of the above-quoted assessments in essence, though the second sounds more dismissive than it ought to be. These are indeed well-made concertos, similar in their contours, formal layout and wiry strength to those of CPE Bach, and if they do not quite have the same piquancy and spark as Bach’s best, they are in some ways more shapely and spacious. Indeed, if you like this kind of music but find Bach’s rather restless and fidgety, then these might just appeal more. And if that is the case, you will certainly be content with these world-premiere performances, given by a young Polish harpsichordist who plays with exemplary clarity and tone, and is backed up by alert and full-bodied one-to-a-part strings.