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Balbastre: Pieces De Clavecin (1759) / Yates

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Details

Composer: BALBASTRE, CLAUDE-BENIGNE
Artist: Sophie Yates
Format: CD
Label: Chandos
Released: Feb 22, 2011
Catalog #: CHAN 0777
UPC: 095115077726

About

Claude-Bénigne Balbastre, the French composer, organist, and harpsichordist, was one of the most famous musicians of his time. His suite of pieces from 1759 is here performed by Sophie Yates on a harpsichord specially chosen for the repertoire, a double manual instrument built by Andrew Garlick in 1996. It is a copy of a French harpsichord by Jean- Claude Goujon, made in Paris in 1748, which today forms part of the collection of the Musée de la Musique at the Conservatoire de Paris. Sophie Yates has made a series of solo CDs for Chandos, many of which have won international awards. She has been described by Gramophone as 'hugely talented' and by BBC Music as playing 'with exceptional poise'. In the eighteenth century, aristocratic or, ideally, royal patronage was the undisputed key to an artist's success. In the case of Balbastre, the young composer was quickly and efficiently introduced to the Parisian musical circles and high society by no less a figure than Jean-Philippe Rameau, and made a brilliant career. He played at the Concert Spirituel until 1782, became organist of the Notre-Dame cathedral and of the Chapelle Royale, harpsichordist to the French royal court where he taught Queen Marie Antoinette, and organist to Louis-Stanislav Xavier, Count of Provence, later Louis XVIII, King of France. His fame grew so great that the archbishop of Paris had to forbid Balbastre to play at Saint Roch during certain services, because the church drew excessive crowds whenever he played. Because of his royal patronage, Balbastre developed a compositional style that displayed strong elements of nobility and grandeur, but there was also a great deal of exuberance, which meant that his works were commonly regarded as more popular than intellectual. The music on this recording takes the form of descriptive 'pièces de charactère'. Some of them - 'La Suzanne', for example - require a sparkling virtuosity, whilst others, such as 'La Berville', calls for the sensitivity to create a supple line. The title Giga at the top of 'La Lugeac' is a clue to its Italianate vigour, and its infectious spirit shows off Balbastre's gift for the common touch. 'La d'Hericourt' and 'La de Caze' are more noble and traditional. By contract, the pastoral style, so very popular in eighteenth-century France, is clearly heard in the socalled Air Champêtre, 'La Castlemore'. This collection of pieces was composed at the time when Balbastre was enjoying his greatest success in Paris, just before the old regime and all that went with it came to a dramatic end. It embodies the last flowering of the French harpsichord repertoire.

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Tracklist 17 tracks

1 No. 1. La de Caze, Ouverture: Fierement et marque, anime 05:40

Track
1

Title
No. 1. La de Caze, Ouverture: Fierement et marque, anime
Duration
05:40
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
2 No. 2. La D'Héricourt: Noblement, sans lenteur 05:36

Track
2

Title
No. 2. La D'Héricourt: Noblement, sans lenteur
Duration
05:36
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
3 No. 3. La Ségur Gavotte: Gracieusement 05:13

Track
3

Title
No. 3. La Ségur Gavotte: Gracieusement
Duration
05:13
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
4 No. 4. La Monmartel ou La Brunoys: Allegro 03:05

Track
4

Title
No. 4. La Monmartel ou La Brunoys: Allegro
Duration
03:05
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
5 No. 5. La Boullongne: Fierement et marque 06:53

Track
5

Title
No. 5. La Boullongne: Fierement et marque
Duration
06:53
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
6 No. 6. La Castelmore, Air Champetre: Loure - Gracieux 03:53

Track
6

Title
No. 6. La Castelmore, Air Champetre: Loure - Gracieux
Duration
03:53
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
7 No. 7. La Courteille, Air 03:40

Track
7

Title
No. 7. La Courteille, Air
Duration
03:40
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
8 No. 8. Le Bellaud: Vivement 02:26

Track
8

Title
No. 8. Le Bellaud: Vivement
Duration
02:26
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
9 No. 9. La Lamarck, Ouverture: Vivement, marque 05:09

Track
9

Title
No. 9. La Lamarck, Ouverture: Vivement, marque
Duration
05:09
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
10 No. 10. La Berville, Gavotte: Gracieusement 04:46

Track
10

Title
No. 10. La Berville, Gavotte: Gracieusement
Duration
04:46
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
11 No. 11. La Lugeac, Giga: Allegro 03:33

Track
11

Title
No. 11. La Lugeac, Giga: Allegro
Duration
03:33
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
12 No. 12. La Suzanne, Noblement et anime: Gracieusement 04:26

Track
12

Title
No. 12. La Suzanne, Noblement et anime: Gracieusement
Duration
04:26
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
13 No. 13. La Genty, Badine: Gaiement 04:15

Track
13

Title
No. 13. La Genty, Badine: Gaiement
Duration
04:15
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
14 No. 14. La Malesherbe, Ariette: Gracieuse - Air: Gay 04:09

Track
14

Title
No. 14. La Malesherbe, Ariette: Gracieuse - Air: Gay
Duration
04:09
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
15 No. 15. La Berryer ou La Lamoignon, Rondeau: Gracieusement 03:37

Track
15

Title
No. 15. La Berryer ou La Lamoignon, Rondeau: Gracieusement
Duration
03:37
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
16 No. 16. La Laporte: Allegro, anime 03:26

Track
16

Title
No. 16. La Laporte: Allegro, anime
Duration
03:26
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates
17 No. 17. La Morisseau, Noblement 06:31

Track
17

Title
No. 17. La Morisseau, Noblement
Duration
06:31
Composer
Claude-Bénigne Balbastre
Performer
Sophie Yates