Montéclair: Six concerts à deux flûtes traversières sans basses

Featuring

Marie-Céline Labbé
Marion Treupel-Franck
Michel Pignolet de Montéclair

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Historical Context

The fortress of Montéclair, which protected the composer's hometown of Andelot, was razed in 1635 during the Thirty Years' War, along with over 2000 other castles deemed 'of no use in the service of the King'.

Composer Biography

Michel Pignolet de Montéclair, the composer, was born in Andelot, a village near the border with Lorraine, which was once a significant frontier city.

Composer Biography

Montéclair, the youngest of nine children, was discovered by canons from Langres cathedral at age eight and trained in the children's choir of Saint-Mammès cathedral for over ten years.

Compositional Technique

Montéclair's concertos feature many short, richly ornamented pieces, mostly in dance-form, with evocative titles reflecting the French taste for descriptive music.

Composition History

The Concertos for two transverse flutes without bass were published between 1721 and 1724 by the composer's nephew, François Boivin.

Recording & Production

The performers, Marion Treupel-Franck and Marie-Céline Labbé, undertook a research trip to France in 2009 to learn more about Montéclair's life and work before recording the album.

Composer Biography

Montéclair was engaged as a basse de violon player in the orchestra of the Royal Academy of Music in Paris in 1699 and later introduced the double-bass to the orchestra.