"Générations" Senaillé & Leclair : Sonatas for Violin and Harpsichord
7/16/2021, 25 Tracks, 1:08:23
Featuring
Théotime Langlois de Swarte
William Christie
Jean-Marie Leclair
Jean Baptiste Senaillé
Did you know?
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Composer Biography
Jean-Marie Leclair, a French violinist and composer, was originally a cord maker and also excelled as a dancer before becoming a renowned violinist.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at William Christie's home in the Vendée, in his living room, after the first lockdown, creating a magical and unhurried atmosphere.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Leclair's training as a dancer influenced his compositions, evident in the rhythmic vitality of his writing and the finely polished harmonies of his bass parts.
Historical Context
The early 18th century in France saw a boom in instrumental music, especially for violin, influenced by the success of Arcangelo Corelli's sonatas and concertos published across Europe.
Interpretation
William Christie, the harpsichordist on this album, notes that Senaillé's elaborate bass parts are so well-worked that the sonatas can be played without the support of a string bass.
Composer Biography
Jean-Baptiste Senaillé, a French violinist and composer, was the son of Jean Senaillé, one of the 'Vingt-quatre Violons du Roy' (the King's 24 Violinists), and became a musician for the king himself.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Senaillé blended Italian and French musical styles, incorporating Italian virtuosity with French dances like gavottes, a characteristic noted by a chronicler in the Mercure de France.
