Marais: Pièces favorites

Dive into the enchanting world of Baroque music with Marin Marais' "Pièces favorites," a captivating collection of his most beloved compositions for the viola da gamba. Released on February 5, 2016, by Ricercar, this album offers a rich tapestry of Marais' virtuosic and expressive pieces, performed with exquisite skill by François Joubert-Caillet and L'Achéron.

Spanning a duration of 76 minutes, this single-disc album features 18 tracks drawn from Marais' "Pièces de viole" collections, showcasing his mastery of the viola da gamba and his innovative compositional techniques. The album includes iconic pieces such as "Prélude en harpégement," "L’Arabesque," and "La rêveuse," each demonstrating Marais' unique ability to evoke a wide range of moods and atmospheres.

Marais, a prominent French composer and viol player of the late 17th and early 18th centuries, is renowned for his contributions to the development of the viola da gamba repertoire. His works are characterized by their technical brilliance, melodic inventiveness, and deep emotional resonance. This album provides a comprehensive overview of his artistry, highlighting his ability to blend intricate counterpoint with lyrical beauty.

Whether you are a seasoned enthusiast of Baroque music or a newcomer to the genre, "Pièces favorites" offers a delightful journey through the timeless compositions of Marin Marais. The album's meticulous performances and high-quality recording ensure an immersive listening experience, allowing you to appreciate the subtleties and nuances of Marais' musical genius.

Marin Marais, born in Paris in 1656, was a virtuoso viol player and a prolific composer whose works have left an indelible mark on the Baroque music landscape. His journey began under the tutelage of the renowned Jean-Baptiste Lully and the enigmatic Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe, from whom he absorbed the nuances of the viol. Marais' career flourished at the royal court of Versailles, where he was appointed as a court musician in 1676 and later as ordinaire de la chambre du roy pour la viole in 1679, a position he held until 1725.

Marais' compositions are a testament to his mastery of the viol, with five books of Pièces de viole that showcase his technical prowess and emotional depth. Beyond his viol works, he also composed four operas and various instrumental and vocal pieces, demonstrating his versatility as a composer. His music is notable for its balance between the harmonic idioms of the past and the innovations of his time, making it as relevant today as it was in the 17th and 18th centuries. Marais' legacy extends beyond the concert hall, with his life and music gaining wider recognition through cinematic portrayals, further cementing his status as a central figure in the French school of viol playing.