Marais / Heudelinne / Couperin / Focus Baroque - Avec Privilege Du Roy - COMPACT DISCS [CD]

That the viola da gamba music of Marin Marais represents a treasure trove of expressive and technical possibilities is just reason for Paolo Pandolfo's eagerly-awaited return to the composer's works with his new Marais 1689 recording for Glossa. Pandolfo's style of playing is apt for this music meticulousness and sensitivity, and a technical strength which allows him to demonstrate the instrument's versatility and gives him a sense of rare freedom. To follow a recent sequence of recordings which has seen him approach the music of Couperin and de Machy, but which also includes the Pièces de viole by Marais' teacher Sainte Colombe, Pandolfo now turns to the year 1689, when Marais (surrounded by constant arguments as to the true way of doing justice to the gamba) had published the continuo accompaniment for his earlier Pièces à une et à deux violes - this was quite a revolutionary move on the young composer's part. To reflect this transition effected by Marais - from the gamba being an instrument heard by itself to one operating within a chamber ensemble environment - Paolo Pandolfo has chosen from this First Book works for one or two gambas, with or without continuo support, in the form of a pair of Suites and various individual pieces, including the Tombeau de Mr Méliton and the rarely recorded set of variations Sujet & Diversitez. Album Tracks 1. I. Prélude 2. II. Allemande 3. III. Courante 4. IV. Sarabande 5. V. Gigue 6. VI. Gavotte en Rondeau 7. VII. Menuet 8. VIII. Gavotte 9. IX. Fantaisie en Echo 10. X. Chaconne 11. Prélude in D minor 12. I. Prélude 13. II. Allemande 14. III. Courante 15. IV. Sarabande 16. V. Gigue 17. VI. Gavotte 18. VII. Menuet 19. Sujet and Diversitez 20. Rondeau in G minor 21. Tombeau de Mr Meliton

Without a doubt, French composer Marin Marais wrote some of the greatest music of the Baroque. His works for viola da gamba are central to his output. Gambist John Dornenburg and harpsichordist Malcolm Proud are two of the finest period instrument performers of our day, and present Marais's works on this album. After many years as a San Francisco Bay Area performer, teacher, and recording artist, John Dornenburg now resides in the Cotswold region of the United Kingdom. He has made over thirty CDs of both solo and chamber music on all sizes of viola da gamba and violone, two of which feature virtuoso music for the unaccompanied bass viol. As a viola da gamba soloist he has performed in Britain, Ireland, the Netherlands, Turkey, Australia, New Zealand, and across the U.S.A., including appearances at the Istanbul International Festival, Krakow Festival, Melbourne International Festival, Monadnock Festival, and Berkeley Early Music Festival. Malcolm Proud won first prize at the Edinburgh International Harpsichord Competition in 1982. He has performed at all the major Irish festivals and has toured Finland, Denmark, Holland, U.K., Switzerland, Germany, France, Italy, U.S.A., Japan, Canada, Estonia, Latvia, Belgium, Austria and Portugal. In 2016 he gave harpsichord recitals at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, at Fenton House in London playing the Queen's 1612 Ruckers, at the Cobbe Collection of Historical Keyboard Instruments in Hatchlands, Surrey, and at Handel House in London. Album Tracks 1. Suite in G Major 2. Suite in D minor 3. Tombeau de Mr 4. Suite in E minor 5. Tombeau Pour Mr. de Ste. Colombe 6. Suite in a Major 7. Tombeau Pour Mr. de Lully 8. Suite in E Major

Album Tracks 1. Prélude - Mira Lange 2. Prélude 3. Allemande la Beuron 4. Rondeau Le Plaisant 5. Caprice la Bellemont 6. Sarabande L'espagnol 7. Chaconne 8. Prélude - Sarah Perl 9. Le Tableau de L'operation de la Taille 10. Tombeau Pour Monsieur de Ste. Colombe 11. Le Badinage 12. La Forqueray - Mira Lange 13. La Marella 14. Le Clement 15. Sarabande la D'aubonne 16. Le Carillon de Passy 17. La Latour 18. Le Carillon de Passy 19. Prélude - Mira Lange 20. La Couperin