Ensemble Molière
Flavia Hirte (baroque flute)
Alice Earll (baroque violin)
Kate Conway (viola da gamba)
Catriona McDermid (baroque bassoon)
Satoko Doi-Luck (harpsichord)
The first half of the eighteenth century saw French instrumental music develop a sophisticated chamber repertoire, shaped by a growing dialogue between French and Italian styles. This album brings together works by Couperin, Brossard, Duphly, Guillemain, Quentin, Corrette, Dandrieu, Delalande and Collin de Blamont.
From the expressive contrasts of Couperin’s La Sultanne to the dance rhythms and counterpoint of later works, this programme reveals the variety of French chamber music across the period. Performed by Ensemble Molière, these pieces show composers adapting Italian forms and techniques while retaining a distinctly French sense of balance, colour and character.
The programme also celebrates the many unique and distinctive instrument combinations that Ensemble Molière offer, as they explore the flexible performance practices of the period.
Album Booklet
About the Artists: Ensemble Molière
François Collin de Blamont (1690–1760)
arr. Satoko Doi-Luck
Endymion
1. Ouverture
François Couperin (1668–1733)
Six Sonates en Trio
2. La Sultanne
Jacques Duphly (1715–1789)
Troisième Livre de Pièces de Clavecin
3. La Du Tailly
4. La De Valmallette
Sébastien de Brossard (1655–1730)
Sonate en Trio in E minor, SdB. 220
5. Largo
6. Allegro (Fuga)
7. Largo
8. (no tempo indication)
9. Adagio
10. (no tempo indication) –
Adagio
Louis-Gabriel Guillemain (1705–1770)
Deuxième Livre de Sonates en Quatuor,
Op. 17: Sonata No. 6 in A minor
11. Allegro
12. Aria Grazioso
13. Presto
Jean-Baptiste Quentin (c.1690–c.1742)
Sonates à Quatre Parties, Op. 8:
Sonata No. 4 in F minor
14. Largo
15. Allegro
16. Gavotta (Tendrement)
17. Allegro
Michel Corrette (1707–1795)
Les Délices de la Solitude, Op. 20:
Sonata No. 4 in B-flat major
18. Adagio
19. Corrente
20. Aria (Affettuoso)
21. Allegro (Bruit de Chasse)
Jean-François Dandrieu (1682–1738)
Six Sonates en Trio, Op. 1:
Sonata No. 3 in G minor
22. Adagio
23. Allegro
24. Adagio
25. Allegro (Giga)
Michel-Richard Delalande (1657–1726)
arr. Satoko Doi-Luck
Symphonies pour les Soupers du Roy
26. Grande pièce royale en sol,
deuxième fantaisie ou caprice que
le Roy demandoit souvent, S.161
