Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève/Suite No. 1 in C major/Suite No. 4 in D major

On this CD:

1. La Sonnerie de Sainte Geneviève du Mont à Paris for violin, viola da gamba & continuo
Composed by Marin Marais
Performed by Alice Harnoncourt, Nikolaus Harnoncourt

2. Pièces en trio, for flutes, violins & viola Suite No 1 in D major
Composed by Marin Marais


3. Pièces à une ou deux violes avec basse continue, Book 3 Suite No 4 in D major
Composed by Marin Marais
Performed by Nikolaus Harnoncourt

Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève/Suite No. 1 in C major/Suite No. 4 in D major, Music, Marin Marais, Alice Harnoncourt, Chamber, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Music, Mixed Chamber Ensemble with Keyboard, Single String Instrument with Keyboard/Continuo, Two String Instruments with Keyboard/Continuo
Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève/Suite No. 1 in C major/Suite No. 4 in D major
Average customer rating: 2 out of 5 stars
  • Unfeeling performance by Harnoncourt
  • Poor Interpretations of French Baroque Viola Pieces
 Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève/Suite No. 1 in C major/Suite No. 4 in D major

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

All Works by MaraisAll Works by Marais | Marais, Marin | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Chamber MusicChamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music
Harnoncourt, NikolausHarnoncourt, Nikolaus | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Classical | Styles | Music
GeneralGeneral | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music
ClassicalClassical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000027NSC
Release Date: 1992-02-12

Tracks:

  1. Sonnerie De St. Genevieve Du Mont De Paris
  2. Ste No.1 En C: Prld/Sarabande/Fant/Loure/La Bagatelle/Gavotte/Menuet/Rondeau
  3. Ste No.4 En D: Prld/Allemande/Courante/Sarabande/La Folette/Gigue/Govotte/Menuet La Chanterelle...

Customer Reviews:

3 out of 5 stars Unfeeling performance by Harnoncourt.......2007-02-24

This same material is better suited under the able direction of Jordi Savall and his numerous cds of French Baroque music.The notes are all there with Harnoncourt,but the feeling is removed once the wrap comes off the cd.Look elsewhere-especially to Savall for interpretation.

1 out of 5 stars Poor Interpretations of French Baroque Viola Pieces.......2005-10-23

French Baroque is not a very well known style in performance circles either by the performers themselves or audiences. In particular, viola performances are probably the least known or heard. The viola da gamba is the cello's predecessor and prominent in both English and French Early-Mid Baroque. The instrument has greater range and resonance with 7 strings. There are probably fewer than 300 professional players performing on this instrument today. There are probably 4-5 who are the best and the musicians here are not even close to the talent of the undisputed and unmatched French master violist, Jordi Savall: there is absolutely no comparison.

The 'Sonnerie' here is lifeless and completely at odds with the meter. The violas are groaning in slow agony as opposed to whirling feverishly and spiraling towards a heaven-like ecstacy. The rest of the pieces are equally pathetic in their execution. Listen to a sample of Savall's performance of this piece on the soundtrack to 'All The Mornings of The World' and the music will simply explain itself for you to make your descisions in buying French Baroque. He also has the best performance of Lully's 'Les Concerts Royaux' that I have ever heard: this man is nothing less than a prodigy in his art of the viola and his direction of French Baroque. I have the utmost respect for this man as an artist: he is truly a living legend.

For French Baroque in general and especially for Marin Marais or other viola composers, there is no other performer/conductor than Jordi Savall worth listening to. Especially for viola, his closest contenders are still motionless on the ground while he is flying circles in the stratosphere: there is simply no comparison and his virtuosity is exponentially superior to every one else's. Find out for yourselves and you will soon be agreeing with what I say. Good luck in your search for great music!

Music Track:

  1. Meslanges Royaux
  2. Message from the Moon: Everlasting Chinese Love Songs
  3. Monteverdi: Addio Florida Bella
  4. Monteverdi: Selva Morale [Import]
  5. Mozart: Complete String Quintets, Vol. 2
  6. Mozart: Concertos for piano No21; Sinfonia concertante in Ef
  7. Mozart: Piano Concertos No. 22 & 25
  8. Mozart: Symphonies Nos. 25, 28 & 29
  9. Piano Works of Carl Nielsen
  10. Ravel: Miroirs/Le Tombeau De Couperin

Music Track

music track

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