Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre made her debut at age five, playing harpsichord and singing for King Louis XIV, who supported her throughout her life.
Compositional Technique
The suites in Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's first book of harpsichord pieces often begin with an unmeasured prelude, a form inherited from lute music.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording is an anonymous 'Diem' harpsichord from 1679, likely built in the Rhône Valley, with a double manual and a wide chromatic range.
Interpretation
Marie van Rhijn, the performer, composed a 'double' for the minuet concluding the pieces in D, inspired by Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's own compositional style.
Composer Biography
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, born in 1665, came from a family of musicians, which was fortunate at a time when musical education for women was nonexistent.
Composition History
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre's first book of harpsichord pieces was among the very few published in 17th-century France, alongside works by Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, Nicolas Lebègue, and Jean Henry d'Anglebert.
Recording & Production
The harpsichord used, known as the 'Diem' harpsichord, was saved from being converted into a radio-bar in 1954 by its previous owners.
