Despite Marchand's plan to publish a new harpsichord suite every three months, only two collections, each containing one suite, and three small separate works have survived.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording is a copy of a French harpsichord built by Pierre Donzelague in Lyon in 1711, made by Detmar Hungerberg in 1996.
Composer Biography
Louis Marchand, a virtuoso harpsichordist and organist to King Louis XIV, was born in Lyon, a town known for its thriving silk industry and harpsichord makers.
Interpretation
Since no extant old editions of Marchand's works contain an ornament table, the performers on this album referred to 17th and 18th-century French music performance practices described in treatises.
Composer Biography
Marchand's violent and unruly temperament led to his divorce, after which he was obliged to give his ex-wife half of his income, leading to numerous conflicts.
Composer Biography
Marchand famously left France in 1713 to avoid the consequences of an impertinent act towards King Louis XIV, after an anecdote claims he stopped playing mid-mass.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the St. Lawrence Church of Bergheim-Quadrath, Germany, on October 8-9, 2020.
