Joseph Boismortier was a French Baroque composer who had to live by his wits, having no patrons or prestigious positions. The notes for this CD...

Joseph Boismortier was a French Baroque composer who had to live by his wits, having no patrons or prestigious positions. The notes for this CD quote Jean-Benjamin's assessment in 1780: "Happy is he, Boismortier, whose fertile quill each month, without pain, conceives new airs at will." Boismortier, for lack of a better answer to his critics, would always answer: "I am earning money." His four Ballets de Village are rustic suites that make extensive use of the musette and hurdy-gurdy, instruments considered country cousins, not to be used in "serious" music. Boismortier writes for them with great skill; the droning din they set up is most appealing. This is joyous music, which at times, especially at the beginning to Cinquième gentillesse, is reminiscent of Handel's Water Music. The Serenade is a more "serious" composition. Though it uses folk dances and dance rhythms it omits the rustic instruments, retaining pairs of flutes and oboes as the wind compliment.

All of this delightful music is performed with verve and finesse by the musicians of Le Concert Spirituel, and it's recorded in spacious sound that imparts a feeling of the great outdoors or a meeting hall without muddying any of the exquisite instrumental textures. This is the second CD of Boismortier's music that this ensemble has recorded for Naxos. Let's hope that soon these superb musicians will address the composer's masterpiece: Daphnis et Chloé.

-- Rad Bennett, ClassicsToday.com