Some German handwritten copies of Gaspard le Roux's suites were made in the circle of Johann Sebastian Bach, who likely knew these pieces and may have quoted one in his English Suites.
Composition History
Gaspard le Roux's Pièces de clavecin from 1705 are his only known surviving compositions, though he was also credited with a motet.
Compositional Technique
Gaspard le Roux's suites are unique because they can be performed as a solo harpsichord piece, as a trio for two melody instruments and basso continuo, or as a harpsichord duo.
Performer Biography
Siebe Henstra, the other harpsichordist, constructed his first harpsichord at age 16 and studied with renowned harpsichordists Gustav Leonhardt and Ton Koopman.
Performer Biography
Pieter-Jan Belder, one of the harpsichordists on this recording, won the Leipzig Bach harpsichord competition in 2000 and has made over 130 album recordings.
Compositional Technique
The preludes in Gaspard le Roux's Pièces de clavecin are written in the old non-mesuré style, requiring the performer to improvise the rhythm.
Composer Biography
Gaspard le Roux, the composer, is known to have been one of the great harpsichord teachers in Paris around the turn of the 18th century.
