Josh Cheatham, Julien Léonard, Skip Sempé - Marais & Sainte-Colombe: Pièces de viole (2009)

Tracklist

01. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: I. Prélude
02. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: II. Fantaisie et double
03. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: III. Allemande
04. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: IV. Courante
05. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: V. Sarabande grave
06. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: VI. Gigue
07. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: VII. Rondeau
08. Pièces de viole In C Minor, Livre 3: VIII. Menuet
09. Concert 48: I. Le Raporté
10. Concert 48: II. La Belle - Passacaille du raporté
11. Concert 48: III. Chacone raportée
12. Pièces de viole in G Minor, Livre 5: I. Prélude
13. Pièces de viole in G Minor, Livre 5: II. Allemande La Marianne
14. Pièces de viole in G Minor, Livre 5: III. Gigue La Pagode
15. Pièces de viole in G Minor, Livre 5: IV. Sarabande
16. Pièces de viole In G Major, Livre 3: I. Prélude
17. Pièces de viole In G Major, Livre 3: II. Allemande La Magnifique et double
18. Pièces de viole In G Major, Livre 3: III. Courante
19. Pièces de viole In G Major, Livre 3: IV. Sarabande grave
20. Pièces de viole In G Major, Livre 3: V. Gigue a l’Angloise
21. Pièces de viole en Sol, Livre 5: I. Gigue La Précieuse
22. Pièces de viole en Sol, Livre 5: II. Le Jeu de Volant
23. Pièces de viole en Sol, Livre 5: III. Chaconne
24. Sarabande a 2 violes in D Minor, Livre I

There can never be too many recordings of the gamba music of Marin Marais, especially as long as they are as fine as this one featuring Josh Cheatham. With his juicy but focused tone, virile but supple technique, and profoundly sensitive interpretations, Cheatham is a model Marais player, and he brings out the best in these excerpts from the Third and Fifth Books of music for gamba. There is plenty of variety in his playing; l'Angloise and La Précieuse are dryly amusing, the two Sarabandes are deeply soulful, and the Chaconne that closes the third suite is almost unbearably intense. The inclusion of Sainte-Colombe's three-movement Concert XLVIII adds not only variety but depth to the proceedings. Admirably seconded by gamba player Julien Léonard, sympathetically supported by master harpsichordist Skip Sempé, and lushly recorded by Paradizo, this disc will thrill listeners who love the moody beauty of Marais' incomparable music.

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