New CDs with Early Music. In today’s episode, two recently released CDs with music from France. The first CD features sonatas by Corelli and Quentin, the second CD features two orchestral suites for a wedding in 1773..
Arcangelo Corelli has had a significant influence on his contemporaries and later generations. Especially his violin sonatas opus 5 were reprinted many times all throughout Europe, sometimes in the original instrumentation, but often adapted for other instruments. At the end of the 1730s, an edition of the first six sonatas arranged for traverso was published in Paris. This instrument became very popular throughout Europe, but especially in France.
Flutist Anna Besson recorded three of these arrangements and, following a similar approach, added some violin sonatas by French composer Jean-Baptiste Quentin.
In 1773, Charles Philippe, count of Artois and grandson of Louis XV, married Maria Theresa of Savoy. This was to be celebrated with a grand party, and it was the responsibility of François Francoeur, Surintendant de la Musique de la Chambre du roi, to provide the music. He compiled four orchestral suites. Not only from his own works, but also that of contemporaries and composers from previous generations, including dances from operas.
Composer and flutist Alexis Kossenko recorded all four suites; today, we will hear the second.
Arcangelo Corelli (1643-1713), arr. anonymous
1. Sonata in g, op. 5,5
Jean-Baptiste Quentin (ca. 1690-ca. 1742)
2. Sonata quarta (book III, 1728)
Anna Besson, traverso. Myriam Rignol, viola da gamba. Jean Rondeau, harpsichord
(CD: Corelli, Quentin: “Flute Sonatas” – Alpha 1022, 2023)
François Francoeur (1698-1787) (ed)
3. Simphonie Festin Royal de Monseigneur le Comte d’Artois: Deuxième Suite
a. François Francoeur: Ouverture (Scanderberg, 1736)
b. Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): Air majestueux (Les Fêtes de l’Hymen et de l’Amour, 1747)
c. François Francoeur:
– Air gracieux (Pyrame et Thisbé, 1771)
– Air vif (Recueil de différents airs de symphonie de M. Francoeur)
– Première et deuxième gavottes (after Jean-Baptiste Lully, Armide, 1745?/1761?)
d. Antoine Dauvergne: Air très vif (Enée et Lavinie, 1758)
e. François Francoeur: Air marqué (Ballet de la Félicité, 1745/Scanderberg, 1771)
f. Bernard de Bury (1720-1785): Air en chaconne vive (after Jean-Baptiste Lully, Armide, 1770)
g. Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville (1711-1772): Première et deuxième gavottes (Isbé, 1742)
h. François Francoeur: Air vif (Recueil de différents airs de symphonie de M. Francoeur)
i. Jean-Philippe Rameau: Première et deuxième gavottes (Dardanus, 1744)
j. François Francoeur: Contredanse (Recueil de différents airs de symphonie de M. Francoeur)
Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie olv. Alexis Kossenko
(CD: “Festin Royal du Mariage du Comte d’Artois – Versailles 1773” – Château de Versailles Spectacles CVS101, 2023)
additionally:
Jean-Claude Trial (1732-1771)
4. Contredanse vive (La Fête de Flore, 1770)
Les Ambassadeurs ~ La Grande Écurie conducted by Alexis Kossenko
(CD: see 3)
