François Dieupart, also known as Charles Dieupart, was a French composer who made his career in England. He was involved in a venture to promote Italian opera in London. This project was derailed by the success of Handel’s operas from 1710 onwards. Nevertheless, Dieupart seems to have enjoyed a solid reputation as a performer, orchestral musician and harpsichord teacher. His works enjoyed a certain success, notably his 6 suites for harpsichord, widely distributed in Europe and said to have inspired Johann Sebastian Bach’s English suites.

The concerto à 5 is an intermediate genre between the concerto grosso, inherited from Corelli, and the solo concerto popularised by Vivaldi in the 1710s. It treats the soloist and the orchestra equally, creating a dialogue between them.

This concerto for flute and orchestra in A minor is a fine piece for recorder (descant, with treble fingerings), traverso and oboe. The orchestra has 4 "Italian" string parts, which can be doubled ad lib by oboes and bassoon.

The work, in three movements (1. Vivace - 2. Grave e staccato - 3. Allegro), lasts around 10 minutes. It makes an excellent transition in a concert of vocal works, between two Handel arias, for example.