Johannes Pramsohler, Philippe Grisvard – French Sonatas for Harpsichord and Violin (2018)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/48 kHz | Time – 01:56:04 minutes | 1,40 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Digital Booklet, Front Cover | © Audax Records

Sonatas for violin and obligato harpsichord by Guillemain, Mondonville, Corrette, Duphly, Marchand, Balbastre and Clément. Powerful, elegant, and refined – In 1740, with the op. 4 of Jean-Joseph Cassan a de Mondonville, a new genre appeared on the scene in France, a genre that was to fundamentally overturn the relationship to the harpsichord – until then a continuo instrument when it was not playing alone: the Pieces de clavecin en sonates avec accompagnement de violon.

Contrary to what the title might suggest, the two instruments engage in a dialogue as equals. Unknowingly, Mondonville imitated the Sei Suonate Cembalo certato e Violino solo that Bach had composed ten years earlier. Moreover, he introduced a thoroughly Italian flavour – certainly an echo of the concertos by Corelli and Vivadli that at the time were often heard at the Concert Spirituel. The following decade then experienced a veritable rage for this form: Corrette, Guillemain, Balbastre, and others put their visions of the theme on paper – each in a very personal manner.

The “Dream Team” (Early Music Review), made up of the two indefatigable researchers Philippe Grisvard and Johannes Pramsohler, has rediscovered this neglected part of the violin-harpsichord repertoire and now presents a captivating selection of the genre’s best works in world premiere recordings on an opulent double album.
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