Sheet music by Luis Mercy

English composer and recorder player, possibly an immigrant from France. In 1708, he played at a concert in Epsom and in 1716 he is known to have performed two “entertainments” as an interlude in Lincoln’s Inn Theatre, London. For a few years he worked for James Brydges, earl of Caernarvon, Wales. He left this post in 1719. After this time little is known of his livelihood.

His opus 1 – six sonatas for recorder and continuo – were published in 1718 and were dedicated to James Brydges. In the preface, Mercy defends his instrument, not, as one might expect, against the transverse flute, but against the ever more importunate prevalence of the violin. He praises the technical agility of the recorder, its ability to be heard even in big ensembles in spite of its softness of tone, and its good intonation, also in the high register.

But the recorder was helplessly on the wane. Mercy very likely felt it necessary to invest some interest in other woodwind instruments, as can be seen in the six sonatas for bassoon (or ‘cello) and continuo. Diverse and valuable sonatas, a significant contribution to the somewhat modest repertoire for the bassoon and continuo.