London Festival of Baroque Music: St Peter’s Church, Eaton Square, 119 Eaton Square, London SW1W 9AL

This programme paints a musical picture of the chamber music presented to Louis XIV and Louis XV. The featured composers were among their favourites, allowed into the inner circle of the king and given the title ‘musicien pour la chambre du Roy’: their tasks included providing music for the king in his private chambers. Some of the best chamber music of the period was written for these occasions. The concert offers a rich and various banquet of preludes, suites, sonatas and character pieces, and shows the passage from French to Italian styles.

The music

François Couperin (1668–1733): Troisième Concert in A major/ A minor from ‘Concerts Royaux’ for violin, viola da gamba, and basso continuo

Robert de Visée (1655–1732): Prélude in D major for theorbo

Marin Marais (1656–1728): ‘Tombeau de Lully’, for gamba and basso continuo

Marin Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève du Mont de Paris, for violin, viola da gamba, and basso continuo

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: (1665–1729): Prélude in D minor for harpsichord solo

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Sonata 1 in D minor for violin, viola da gamba, and basso continuo

Antoine Forqueray (1672–1745): ‘La Rameau’ transcribed for harpsichord by Jean-Baptiste Forqueray

Jean Philippe Rameau (1683–1764): Pièces de clavecin en concert no. 3

The musicians

(Nicolette Moonen violin, Robert Smith viola da gamba, Lynda Sayce theorbo, Pawel Siwczak harpsichord)