The Complete Works of Antoine Forqueray / Blandine Rannou

Antoine Forqueray was an important violist and composer of the Versailles School. He is said to have composed around 300 works during his lifetime, but because he kept his works secret and never published them (reminiscent of Paganini), only a few dozen arrangements for harpsichord published by his son, Jean-Baptiste, remain. “Marais played like an angel, Forqueray like a devil” said Hubert Le Blanc, a contemporary violist, and this is certainly evident in his works. This CD features a complete recording of the arrangements by his son, Jean-Baptiste, by French harpsichordist Blandine Rannou. Suite No. 1 in D minor includes so-called “musical portraits” of proper nouns, such as “La Forqueray”, “La Cottin” and “La Couperin”. “La Couperin” is particularly famous, and Couperin himself, in return, left us a profound allemande called “La Forqueray”. Suite No. 5 also includes portraits of musicians of the time, such as Rameau and Guignon. I find Rannou’s performance resonates with me in its power and spirit. I also own CDs by Christophe Rousset, Luc Beauséjour, and Michael Borgstede, all of which are equally excellent. I will save my review of the viol performance for another time. #viol #baroque #Forqueray #片山俊幸