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First Hand Records

Friends in High Places

$21.99

Details

Composer
Joseph Bodin de Boismortier, Jean-Daniel Braun, Colin Charpentier, Esprit-Philippe Chedeville, Louis
Artist
Amanda Babington, Baroque In The North
Format
CD
Label
First Hand Records
Released
Aug 21, 2026
Catalog #
FHR193
UPC
5060216348193

About

Best described as a delicate classical bagpipe, the musette's patronage by Louis XIV meant that it became a novel plaything of composers, performers and makers seeking Royal favour. However, by the 1760s it had become an integral part of French culture and music-making, featuring in music for the theatre, court and salon, and played by amateurs and virtuosi alike. Disappearing with the French Revolution, the musette was only rediscovered during the 1960s and this album showcases the instrument's unique sound world in combination with baroque flute, baroque cello and harpsichord. Played on original instruments, the works on this album by composers such as Boismortier, Naudot and Dupuits showcase the instruments' virtuosity. A duo by Chedeville for two musettes references the musette's pastoral history and the harmonically exciting trios by Dugue and Naudot are offset by the beautiful simplicity of solo works by Braun and Dornel for flute and harpsichord respectively.