Composer: Claude Balbastre, Bernard de Bury, Michel Corrette, Gabriel Dubuisson, Jacques Duphly, Jean-Baptiste Forqueray, Charles Noblet, Jean Philippe Rameau, Pancrace Royer
Performer: Clément Geoffroy
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Château de Versailles Spectacles
Catalogue: CVS108
Release: 2023
Size: 1.6 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Dubuisson: Prelude
02. Rameau: La Dauphine
03. Bury: Sarabande, La *** ou Les Sentimens
04. Bury: Menuet 1, Zephir & Menuet 2, Flore
05. Balbastre: Gavotte de M. Rebel
06. Noblet: Allemande
07. Duphly: Rondeau: La Pothoüin
08. Duphly: La de Vaucanson
09. Duphly: Rondeau – Livre I
10. Forqueray: La Angrave
11. Royer: L’Aimable
12. Duphly: La du Buq for harpsichord
13. Royer: La Marche des Scythes
14. Corrette, M: Les Etoiles – Livre I
15. Duphly: La Damanzy
16. Rameau: Musette en rondeau
17. Rameau: Tambourin
18. Bury: Chaconne
19. Rameau: Les tendres plaintes
20. Rameau: Les Cyclopes
21. Balbastre: Contredanse de Pygmalion
French harpsichordists from the time of Louis XV extolled the exhilaration and nonchalance of their harpsichord, which crackled and grumbled, but also sang of sentiment like an opera orchestra. They broke away from dance suites through pieces de caractere (character pieces), a French specificity that draws on portraits of the salons held by ladies of the upper classes. Sentimens and Tendres plaintes respond with an ornamentalist’s talent to the bellicose progression of Cyclopes and Marche des Scythes! Clement Geoffroy performs a collection of this French harpsichord music that attains an exceptional level of subtlety and impetuosity, in the true “rocaille” style that marked its swansong.