Divine Noise: Theatrical Music for Two Harpsichords

Divine Noise: Theatrical Music for Two Harpsichords

Regular price £12.99
Total playing time [74:26]

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Guillermo Brachetta (harpsichord)
Menno van Delft (harpsichord)

Following on from the resounding critical success of his first solo album, harpsichordist Guillermo Brachetta returns with Divine Noise, a thrilling album of theatrical works for two harpsichords.

Joined by the renowned Dutch player Menno van Delft – and performed on two incredible French-style instruments by harpsichord builder Titus Crijnen – the duo present a programme of French Baroque works from François Couperin (La Paix du Parnasse), Gaspard Le Roux (Suite in F major) & Jean-Philippe Rameau. The centre-piece of the disc is a new arrangement by Brachetta of twenty movements from Rameau's comic opera masterpiece Platée.

Album Booklet (PDF)

Tracklist

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)
Platée (1745) Suite
arr. for two harpsichords by
Guillermo Brachetta
1. Ouverture
2. Air Pantomime
3. Contredanse
4. Rigaudons
5. Passepieds
6. ‘Soleil, fuis de ces lieux’
7. Tambourins
8. Air pour des fous gais
9. Air pour des fous tristes
10. ‘Aux langueurs d’Apollon’
11. Menuets dans le gout de vielle
12. Airs
13. Ritournelle
14. Chaconne
15. Loure
16. Entrée
17. Musette
18. Passepieds
19. Tambourins
20. ‘Chantez Platée, égayez-vous’

François Couperin (1668-1733)
La Paix du Parnasse (1725)
Sonade en trio
21. Gravement
22. Vivement
23. Rondement
24. Vivement

Gaspard Le Roux (c. 1660-1707)
Suite in F major (1705)
25. Prélude
26. Allemande Grave
27. Courante
28. Chacone
29. Menuet
30. Passepied

'He and van Delft play as though on one supercharged harpsichord, their ensemble immaculate, the clarity and resonance of their instruments beautifully captured.'

- Gramophone

'He and van Delft play as though on one supercharged harpsichord, their ensemble immaculate, the clarity and resonance of their instruments beautifully captured.'
Gramophone

'This is one of two discs this month of which I have to say, ‘This is the most enormous fun’. The instruments (modern copies of Hemsch and Blanchet) produce a fine, rich sound [...] and under the hands of these uninhibited players give us a thrill-packed journey.'
Early Music Review

'The superbly animated playing carries one along [...] The fillers, Couperin’s La Paix de Parnasse and Gaspard Le Roux’s Suite in F, are delicious. The sound is so vivid you are transported to the recording venue: a Dutch church in spring complete with chirping birds.'
Limelight (Australia)

'The two harpsichords are by Titus Crijnen after on 1736 Hemsch and 1730 Etienne models, and sound splendid [...] It all works extremely well and makes for a fascinating programme.'
Andrew Benson-Wilson (www.andrewbensonwilson.org)

'The dramatic character has been kept alive which is not only the result of Brachetta's work as an arranger but is also the result of how he and Menno van Delft - one of his former teachers - perform it. They play with theatrical flair [...] The pieces by Couperin and Le Roux receive equally fine performances'
MusicWeb International

'The sound of a full-bodied harpsichord can be thrilling – and here we have two together! [...] There is plenty of light and shade although the overall tone of this French baroque programme is vibrant and uplifting. [...] A thrilling experience!'
Lark Reviews

'[...] the quality of the playing on Resonus is excellent: I can only marvel with envy at the way in which both players toss off the ornaments with apparent ease.'
MusicWeb International (download roundup)

Credits
© 2015 Resonus Limited
Ⓟ 2015 Resonus Limited
Catalogue No. RES10145
Producer, engineer & editor: Adam Binks
Cover image: © Fabián Brachetta