Raphaël Feuillâtre, the guitarist, won the prestigious Guitar Foundation of America competition in Louisville, Kentucky, in 2018, before completing his studies at the Paris Conservatoire.
Composition History
Johann Sebastian Bach, a composer featured on this album, transcribed many multi-instrumental Italian concertos for solo keyboard in 1713 after his employer, Prince Johann Ernst of Saxe-Weimar, brought scores from Amsterdam.
Historical Context
Jacques Duphly, a French harpsichordist and composer, died the day after the storming of the Bastille, an event that marked the end of the courtly world to which he and his music belonged.
Interpretation
Transcription, the process of adapting music for a different instrument, is a fundamental aspect of the classical guitar repertoire and a key focus of this recital.
Album & Artwork
The album title, Visages baroques (Baroque Faces), refers to the varied expressions of baroque music, the altered appearance of music when transcribed, and the guitar's wide range of sound.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Raphaël Feuillâtre, the guitarist, considers Bach's Partita No. 1 in B flat major to be a piece that "opened the doors to Baroque music" for him and represents Bach's music beautifully.
Compositional Technique
The album deliberately features the rondeau form, characterized by a recurring theme interspersed with contrasting episodes, as seen in works by Rameau and Bach.
