Leclair, Mondonville, Guillemain et al - Violin Sonatas - Standage, Mortensen

 

Release Date: April 29, 2008 Label: Chandos Number of discs: 1 Composer: Leclair, Mondonville, Guillemain Duphly, Forqueray Performer: Standage, Mortensen cd info/ buy

Review:

Leclair’s music is more than the satisfyingly simple mingling of French and Italian styles common in France in the first few decades of the 18th century. There are moments of harmonic and melodic richness which assert themselves independently of both traditions; always rich in effect, this music has a pleasing unpredictability. Nevertheless, spotting the Frenchisms and Italianisms can be fun, particularly when, for example, the former is so beguilingly apparent in the Tempo Gavotta finale of Op. 5/7. Leclair’s sonatas are joined on this disc by two enormously appealing works by his younger contemporaries De Mondonville and Guillemain, along with two characteristically extravagant harpsichord solos by Duphly and one more moderate one from the younger Forqueray. In terms of virtuosity and feeling for effect, Simon Standage is a near-ideal interpreter. His ability to tinker with the metrical fabric of these sonatas without doing violence to the music is a delight. The violin sound, perhaps as a result of the recording, is a touch acetic, but the ear soon adjusts. Lars Ulrik Mortensen makes imaginative use of the two manuals of the Blanchet copy he plays in accompaniments, and shines in his solos. Whether for dipping into or listening en suite, this is a highly recommendable issue.

 

flac,scans

Forqueray - Pieces de Clavecin - Blandine Rannou

Forqueray - Pieces de Clavecin - Blandine Rannou
Harpsichord | single flac, no cue cue | no log, cover | 2 CD, 985 MB
April 8, 2008 | Zig Zag | RapidShare

Antoine Forqueray was one of the two great composers for the bass viol, the other being Marin Marais of course. While Marais was said to play like an angel, Forqueray was compared to the devil, and their works have been revived by greats such as Savall and Kuijken. To me the bass viol sounds unwieldy even in their hands, and I am therefore indebted to Forqueray's son who published a transcription for harpsichord of some of his father's work. Blandine Rannou made changes in that version to reflect more of the original score and the possibilities of the harpsichord. She writes this was normal at the time when musicians made their own "reductions" or even improvised versions on the spot, on the basis of the continuo part and the melodic line. Whether her changes are improvements I am not in a position to judge, but in any case this is a wonderful recording. Forqueray may not reach the level of Louis Couperin or Froberger, but the music is complex, original, and repays many listening's. Although the pieces are arranged in suites, most are not the usual dances, but portraits in music of composers or other well-known contemporaries. This makes for more variety than is typical of some of the other French harpsichord music, and looks ahead to for instance Francois Couperin. Blandine Rannou plays with great assurance and authority. Helped along perhaps by the sonority of the instrument and the low tessituras characteristic of bass viol music, her performances sound muscular and energetic where necessary, while she is meditative and sensitive in the slower pieces. If you are interested at all in French harpsichord music, these two CDs are a must.--Amazon

CD Content

cd1
01. 5ème Suite en Do Minor: I. La Rameau 5:42
02. 5ème Suite en Do Minor: II. La Guignon 4:19
03. 5ème Suite en Do Minor: III. La Leon 5:18
04. 5ème Suite en Do Minor: IV. La Boisson 3:51
05. 5ème Suite en Do Minor: V. La Montigni 3:42
06. 5ème Suite en Do Minor: VI. La Sylva 8:44
07. 5ème Suite en Do Minor: VII. Jupiter 3:53
08. 2ème Suite en Sol Major: I. La Bouron 4:58
09. 3ème Suite en Sol Major: II. La Mandoline 4:52
10. 4ème Suite en Sol Major: III. La Du Breuil 6:41
11. 5ème Suite en Sol Major: IV. La Leclair 3:17
12. 6ème Suite en Sol Major: V. La Buisson 5:50
13. 1ère Suite en Ré Minor: I. La Laborde 9:12
14. 1ère Suite en Ré Minor: II. La Forqueray 4:23
15. 1ère Suite en Ré Minor: III. La Cottin 4:26

cd2
01. 1ère Suite en Ré Minor: IV. La Bellmont 2:52
02. 1ère Suite en Ré Minor: V. La Portugaise 3:58
03. 1ère Suite en Ré Minor: VI. La Couperin 4:23
04. 3ème Suite en Ré Major: I. La Ferrand 3:51
05. 3ème Suite en Ré Major: II. La Regente 5:57
06. 3ème Suite en Ré Major: III. La Tronchin 5:07
07. 3ème Suite en Ré Major: IV. La Angrave 3:06
08. 3ème Suite en Ré Major: V. La Du Vaucel 5:45
09. 3ème Suite en Ré Major: VI. La Eynaud 3:55
10. 3ème Suite en Ré Major: VII. La Morangis 8:23
11. 4ème Suite en Sol Minor: I. La Marella 3:42
12. 4ème Suite en Sol Minor: II. La Clément 7:25
13. 4ème Suite en Sol Minor: III. La D'Aubonne 6:07
14. 4ème Suite en Sol Minor: IV. La Bournonville 2:39
15. 4ème Suite en Sol Minor: V. La Sainscy 3:29
16. 4ème Suite en Sol Minor: VI. Le Carillon 3:25
17. 4ème Suite en Sol Minor: VII. La Latour 4:44