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Brilliant Classics

Demars: Pieces de Clavecin

$12.99

Details

Composer
Charles Demars
Artist
Simone El Oufir Pierini
Format
CD
Label
Brilliant Classics
Released
Apr 18, 2025
Catalog #
BRI96924
UPC
5028421969244

About

A new recording, unique in the catalogue, of the First (and only surviving) book of keyboard works by Charles de Mars (1702-1774). Compared to many other composers of his era, we know a good deal about the life of de Mars (alternatively known as Demars), making it all the more surprising that the present collection represents all the music of his to have come down to us. He was born to a wax merchant in Sezanne, a small town on the border between the French regions of Brie and Champagne. Several of his relatives were musicians, organists in particular, such as his two brothers. Indeed, we can trace more than 12 members of the de Mars/Tourneur dynasty as organists all over France. Again, the curiosity is that none of their compositions have survived, though they would have written music for their posts just as Charles de Mars did. There is a Handelian flavour to the harmony of the four suites in de Mars's volume, which was published in 1735 and therefore could conceivably have been written with awareness of the older composer's Eight Great Suites for harpsichord. Many features of the volume make it a singular body of work in the French harpsichord tradition. de Mars eschews descriptive titles for individual movements, and occasionally prescribes the performer to play with 'notes egales', and therefore specifically not in the inegale style which we associate with French keyboard composers of the day. As a specialist in this field of unfamiliar keyboard repertoire from the 17th and 18th centuries, with an impressive catalogue of Brilliant Classics albums already to his credit, Simone Pierini has explored the life and work of de Mars for himself, and produced an authoritative booklet essay to accompany his new recording of the Pieces de Clavecin. The Fanfare reviewer of his 3CD album of keyboard sonatas by Helene de Montgeroult considered it 'a major addition to the catalogue', noting that Pierini 'plays with tremendous energy and conviction.' - The Pieces de clavecin by Charles de Mars (1707-1774) are written in the rich tradition of French Baroque harpsichord music. A composer largely overshadowed by luminaries like Francois Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau, de Mars nonetheless contributed to the genre with his distinctive style, characterized by elegant ornamentation and a refined sense of harmony. - de Mars's harpsichord works are steeped in the galant aesthetic, bridging the ornate Baroque style with the more expressive and accessible traits of the early Classical period. His music often features dance forms like the allemande, courante, and sarabande, which were central to the French clavecinistes. - One of the hallmarks of his Pieces de clavecin is his innovative use of ornaments, or agrements, which add a shimmering quality to the melodies. These works also reflect de Mars's ability to evoke character and mood, making them miniature portraits of the 18th-century French musical ethos. - Played by Simone Pierini on a harpsichord by Giulio Fratini after M. Mietke, 2014. Born in Rome in 1996, Pierini began studying music at the age of eight. Aged eighteen, he graduated in piano at S. Cecilia Conservatory of Music, Rome, with highest honors. He afterwards grew interest in historically informed piano practice, attending masterclasses led by Alexei Lubimov, Andreas Staier, Tobias Koch, Stefano Fiuzzi. Subsequently, his interest about historical keyboards in general grew further, and he began studying harpsichord and basso continuo with such teachers as Andrea Coen and Giovanni Togni. His recordings with music by Cherubini and the complete piano sonatas by Helene de Montgeroult were very positively received by the press. Classic FM nominated him as one of the 30 best musicians under 30 in 2024.

Tracklist 26 tracks

  1. 1 I. Prélude 01:29
    Track
    1
    Title
    I. Prélude
    Duration
    01:29
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  2. 2 II. Allemande 05:10
    Track
    2
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    05:10
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  3. 3 III. Courante 02:36
    Track
    3
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    02:36
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  4. 4 IV. Rondeau 04:43
    Track
    4
    Title
    IV. Rondeau
    Duration
    04:43
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  5. 5 V. Vivement 02:54
    Track
    5
    Title
    V. Vivement
    Duration
    02:54
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  6. 6 I. Prèlude: Légèrement 01:19
    Track
    6
    Title
    I. Prèlude: Légèrement
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  7. 7 II. Allemande 04:32
    Track
    7
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    04:32
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  8. 8 III. Courante 03:04
    Track
    8
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    03:04
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  9. 9 IV. Les badinages - Rondeau 03:29
    Track
    9
    Title
    IV. Les badinages - Rondeau
    Duration
    03:29
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  10. 10 V. Sarabande 03:17
    Track
    10
    Title
    V. Sarabande
    Duration
    03:17
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  11. 11 VI. Gigue 01:49
    Track
    11
    Title
    VI. Gigue
    Duration
    01:49
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  12. 12 I. Prélude 02:25
    Track
    12
    Title
    I. Prélude
    Duration
    02:25
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  13. 13 II. Allemande 03:30
    Track
    13
    Title
    II. Allemande
    Duration
    03:30
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  14. 14 III. Courante 01:45
    Track
    14
    Title
    III. Courante
    Duration
    01:45
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  15. 15 IV. Un peu vivement et très lié 03:19
    Track
    15
    Title
    IV. Un peu vivement et très lié
    Duration
    03:19
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  16. 16 V. Air: Rondeau 02:31
    Track
    16
    Title
    V. Air: Rondeau
    Duration
    02:31
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  17. 17 VI. Air.: Rondeau 02:41
    Track
    17
    Title
    VI. Air.: Rondeau
    Duration
    02:41
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  18. 18 VII. Gigue 02:38
    Track
    18
    Title
    VII. Gigue
    Duration
    02:38
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  19. 19 I. Allemande 04:06
    Track
    19
    Title
    I. Allemande
    Duration
    04:06
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  20. 20 II. Courante 03:06
    Track
    20
    Title
    II. Courante
    Duration
    03:06
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  21. 21 III. Air avec 4 doubles: Air 01:47
    Track
    21
    Title
    III. Air avec 4 doubles: Air
    Duration
    01:47
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  22. 22 IV. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 1 01:28
    Track
    22
    Title
    IV. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 1
    Duration
    01:28
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  23. 23 V. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 2 01:19
    Track
    23
    Title
    V. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 2
    Duration
    01:19
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  24. 24 VI. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 3 01:16
    Track
    24
    Title
    VI. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 3
    Duration
    01:16
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  25. 25 VII. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 4 01:35
    Track
    25
    Title
    VII. Air avec 4 doubles: Double 4
    Duration
    01:35
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini
  26. 26 VIII. Gigue (en rondeau) 02:09
    Track
    26
    Title
    VIII. Gigue (en rondeau)
    Duration
    02:09
    Composer
    Charles Demars
    Performer
    Simone Pierini