Justin Taylor - La Famille Forqueray: Portrait(s) (2016)

Justin Taylor, the winner of the 2015 edition of the celebrated harpsichord competition of the Musica Antiqua Festival in Bruges (which has honoured some of the worlds finest players, including Scott Ross, Christophe Rousset, Pierre Hantaï, Benjamin Alard, and more recently Jean Rondeau), has recorded for Alpha Classics a programme of music by the Forqueray family: Antoine, Michel, Jean-Baptiste, Nicolas- Gilles . . . Those are just some of the first names of a great dynasty of French composers, gambists and organists. Antoine Forqueray, born in 1672, obtained the highly coveted position of Musicien de la Chambre du Roi. He subsequently had, shall we say, a complicated relationship with his son Jean-Baptiste, born in 1699 . . . Envious of the boys talent for the viol, Antoine had him imprisoned when he was just sixteen years old!

The recital, as well as painting a musical portrait of this unique family, also offers a chance to reflect on the issue of transcription. In fact, the suites performed here on the harpsichord were originally written for viola da gamba. The passage from one instrument to another, from one soundworld to another, sheds new light on the music and allows us to grasp its full originality.

Tracklist:
01. Prélude non mesuré en Ré Mineur
02. Première suite en Ré Mineur: Allemande "La Laborde"
03. Première suite en Ré Mineur: La Forqueray
04. Première suite en Ré Mineur: La Cottin
05. Première suite en Ré Mineur: La Bellmont
06. Première suite en Ré Mineur: La Portugaise
07. Première suite en Ré Mineur: La Couperin
08. Troisième Livre De Pièces De Clavecin, Ordre XVII: La Superbe Ou La Forqueray
09. Suite pour trois violes: I. Allemande (Transcribed for Solo Harpsichord by Justin Taylor)
10. Suite pour trois violes: II. Courante (Transcribed for Solo Harpsichord by Justin Taylor)
11. Suite pour trois violes: III. Sarabande (Transcribed for Solo Harpsichord by Justin Taylor)
12. Troisième livre de pièces de clavecin: La Forqueray
13. Cinquième suite en Do Mineur: La Rameau
14. Cinquième suite en Do Mineur: La Guignon
15. Cinquième suite en Do Mineur: La Léon (Sarabande)
16. Cinquième suite en Do Mineur: La Boisson
17. Cinquième suite en Do Mineur: La Montigni
18. Cinquième suite en Do Mineur: La Sylva
19. Cinquième suite en Do Mineur: Jupiter