Forqueray: Pièces de viole mises en pièces de clavecin (Alpha Collection)
1/1/2007, 32 Tracks, 2:38:11
Featuring
Blandine Rannou
Antoine Forqueray
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Composer Biography
Jean-Baptiste Antoine Forqueray, the son, was a child prodigy and viol virtuoso, like his father Antoine Forqueray.
Compositional Technique
The Forqueray pieces are considered technically challenging for both viol players and harpsichordists, with a difficulty described as 'demoniac'.
Interpretation
Blandine Rannou, the harpsichordist, sometimes opted for the original viol version's harmonies and continuo figurings when transcribing these pieces, believing some fine original harmonies were lost in the harpsichord version.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording was built in Paris in 1988 by Anthony Sidey and Frédéric Bal, and is a copy of a Ruckers-Hemsch instrument (1636-1763).
Composition History
The pieces on this album were originally written for viola da gamba by Antoine Forqueray, but were transcribed for harpsichord by his son, Jean-Baptiste Antoine Forqueray.
Composer Biography
Antoine Forqueray, the father, was appointed "musicien ordinaire de la Chambre du Roy" at the age of seventeen.
Historical Context
At the time these pieces were transcribed for harpsichord, the viola da gamba was falling out of favor, while the harpsichord was popular among music lovers.
