Johanna Rose - Histoires d'un Ange (2019) [Official Digital Download 24/96]

One of the most peculiar features of the arts in the lavish Versailles court of the Sun King was his conservatism. His instrumental music produced a series of dances during decades, the so-called suites, of unchangeable composition, barely reminding us of old rhythms like the gallarda or the pavana which made room for novelties such as the gigue or the sarabande, installed from then on for future decades.

The gambist Marin Marais, referred to as the angel for his delecacy in comparison to the devil Forqueray, played a central role in that little but great world of short melodic stories, charming subtleties, delicate ornaments and changing repertoire - Changes that made everything remain the same. Surely De Visée, a musician like Marais from the Sun King's own chamber, accompanied him dozens of times on the theorbo and the guitar.

Our concert, a close visit to that court environment, will take the form of a large suite, initiated by a prelude in improvised style, followed by exotic pieces of a - merely apparent - goût étranger, truly as familiar as the allemande or the rondeau. To finish, like the great operas of Lully, there will be a series of imposed variations such as the chaconne and the folia, that will bring us echoes of that majestic, albeit intimate and decadent world which reached its maximum brilliance on the eve of its extinction.

Tracklist:
1. Pièces de viole, Livre V: XVI. Prélude en Harpègement (2:26)
2. Pièces de viole, Livre III: I. Prélude (3:10)
3. Pièces de viole, Livre III: II. Gavotte (1:20)
4. Pièces de viole, Livre III: III. Grand Ballett (4:48)
5. Manuscript Vaudry de Sauzenay: IX. Passacaille (1699) (1:51)
6. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 61. Fête Champêtre (4:25)
7. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 63. Rondeau Le Bijou (4:01)
8. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 64. Le Tourbillon (1:35)
9. Pieces de violes avec la basse chiffrée: VII. Passacaille ou Chaconne (5:33)
10. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 80. L'Árabesque (3:33)
11. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 81. Allemande La Superbe (2:50)
12. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 82. La Reveuse (6:14)
13. Pièces de viole, Suite No. 2, Livre II: No. 38. Cloches ou Carillon (5:41)
14. Pièces de clavecin en concerts No. 5, RCT 11: III. La Marais. Rondement (2:54)
15. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 83. Marche (1:53)
16. Pièces de viole, Livre IV "Suite d'un Goût Etranger": No. 87. Le Badinage (4:44)
17. Pièces de viole, Livre V: XXXI. Chaconne (3:03)

Personnel:
Johanna Rose, viola da gamba
Josep María Martí Durán, theorbo
Javier Núñez, harpsichord