Christophe Rousset - Marchand, Rameau (2012) {Ambronay}

Christophe Rousset - Marchand, Rameau (2012) {Ambronay}

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© 2012 Ambronay / Harmonia Mundi | AMY032

Classical / Baroque / Harpsichord / Keyboard

This recording by fine French harpsichordist Christophe Rousset exposes some music from beyond the famous names of the French Baroque. The central attraction is a pair of suites and three characteristic pieces by Louis Marchand, an organist at Versailles who is famous in musical history for having supposedly ducked an organ duel with J.S. Bach. His two suites recorded here were composed in 1702 and 1706, and thus are almost contemporary with the early Rameau Suite in A minor (1706), from his first book of keyboard suites. All the suites consist of a rhythmically free, quasi-improvised prelude followed by a series of stylized dances; three short character pieces by Marchand are also included as a sort of entr'acte. Nevertheless, the music by Marchand and that by Rameau make diametrically different impressions stylistically, and Rousset plays these differences to the hilt. The pieces by Marchand reside low on the keyboard; they have gravity and soberness and they look back to the golden age of the 17th century French courts. The Rameau suite, early though it is, offers a perfect specimen of his style: it is muscular and harmonically inventive, often proceeding in dense bricks of chords. The result is a program that brings French Baroque keyboard music alive, aided by a mighty instrument: a 1716 Donzélague two-manual harpsichord with an extended bottom range. Highly recommended for Baroque keyboard fans. Personnel: Christophe Rousset - two-manual harpsichord, signed "Donzelague a Lyon 1716" tracklist: 01 - Marchand-Livre I-Prelude 02 - Marchand-Livre I-Allemande 03 - Marchand-Livre I-Courante I 04 - Marchand-Livre I-Courante II 05 - Marchand-Livre I-Sarabande 06 - Marchand-Livre I-Gigue 07 - Marchand-Livre I-Chaconne 08 - Marchand-Livre I-Gavotte 09 - Marchand-Livre I-Menuet 10 - Marchand-Livre II-Prelude 11 - Marchand-Livre II-Allemande 12 - Marchand-Livre II-Courante 13 - Marchand-Livre II-Sarabande 14 - Marchand-Livre II-Gigue 15 - Marchand-Livre II-Gavotte 16 - Marchand-Livre II-Menuet I 17 - Marchand-Livre II-Menuet II 18 - Marchand-Trois pieces-Venitienne 19 - Marchand-Trois pieces-La badine 20 - Marchand-Trois pieces-Gavotte 21 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Prelude 22 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Allemande I 23 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Allemande II 24 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Courante 25 - Rameau-Premier Livre- Gigue 26 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Sarabande I 27 - Rameau-Premier Livre- Sarabande II 28 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Venitienne 29 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Gavotte 30 - Rameau-Premier Livre-Menuet