La messagère: XVII-XXIe siècles, un portrait de la viole de gambe

Featuring

Lucile Boulanger
Jean de Sainte-Colombe
Philippe Hersant
Claire-Mélanie Sinnhuber
Nicolas Hotman
Marin Marais

Gérard Pesson
Sieur de Machy

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Instruments

Lucile Boulanger plays a viola da gamba made by François Bodart in 2006, modeled after a 1699 instrument by Joachim Tielke, and uses a bow by Luis Emilio Rodríguez Carrigton.

Performer Biography

Lucile Boulanger, the viola da gamba player on this album, began playing the instrument at the age of five.

Composition History

Two contemporary pieces on the album, "La Dame d'onze heures" by Claire-Mélanie Sinnhuber and "La Fugitive" by Gérard Pesson, were commissioned for Lucile Boulanger by Radio France and Philharmonie de Paris, respectively.

Composer's Artistic Vision

The album aims to question the identity of the French viola da gamba across centuries, tracing a subjective history of composers without distinguishing progress or decline.

Album & Artwork

The album title, "La Messagère," and the subtitle, "XVIIe/XXIe siècles, un portrait de la viole de gambe," indicate a journey through time and a portrait of the viola da gamba across centuries.

Historical Context

Nicolas Hotman, active from 1630-1660, is considered a founding father of French gamba players and was a teacher to Demachy and Sainte-Colombe, who in turn taught Marais.