Bach

A musical offering

Johann Sebastian Bach’s Musical Offering (BWV 1079) and festive music by Bach’s friends Buxtehude and Telemann

Dieterich Buxtehude (c. 1637–1707): Sonata no. 6 in D minor for violin, viola da gamba, and basso continuo
Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767): Paris Quartet no. 6 in E minor for flute, violin, viola da gamba, and basso continuo
Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): The Musical Offering, BWV 1079

flute, violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord

Bach’s library

A selection of pieces that J.S. Bach had in his library and which provide a context for his celebrated Orchestral Suite in B minor

Johann Bernhard Bach (1676–1749): Ouverture no. 2 in G major

Marin Marais (1656–1728): movements from his opera Alcide arranged for harpsichord

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681–1767): Paris Quartet no. 6 in E minor

Agostino Steffani (1654–1728): La tempête

Charles Dieupart (c.1667–c.1740): Suite no. 6 in F minor

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Orchestral suite no. 2 in B minor, BWV 1067

flute, two violins, viola, cello, harpsichord

All Bach

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685–1750): Suite in B minor for flute and strings, BWV 1067
Johann Sebastian Bach: Canons from the Goldberg Variations, BWV 1087
Johann Gottlieb Goldberg: Trio sonata no. 4 in C major [formerly BWV 1037]
Johann Sebastian Bach: Brandenburg concerto no. 5 in D major, BWV 1050

flute, two violins, viola, cello, harpsichord

other

In the Company of Gods

Private music written for Louis XIV by composers who were all given a place among the gods on Mount Parnassus

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729): Trio Sonata in B flat major, for two violins and basso continuo
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Sonata in A minor, for violin and basso continuo
Marin Marais (1656–1728) Arabesque for viola da gamba and basso continuo
Marin Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève du Mont de Paris for violin, viola da gamba, and basso continuo
François Couperin (1668–1733): La Française, for two violins and basso continuo
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Trio Sonata in C minor for two violins and basso continuo
Jean Philippe Rameau (1683–1764): Pièces de clavecin en concert no. 5 for harpsichord, violin and viola da gamba

two violins, viola da gamba, harpsichord

An Italian in Paris (1)

Works by the first composers in France to explore the Italian style, this programme features Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre. More than a mere ‘woman composer’ (though she was, and under difficult conditions), Jacquet de La Guerre’s music is consistently rich, surprising, and rewarding. This is a rare chance to hear her music played in concert.

Note: many variations are possible in this programme, to include other French composers. Proposals on request

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729): Trio Sonata for two violins and basso continuo in D major

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Harpsichord solo (Book 1, 1687)

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Sonata for violin and basso continuo in F major

François Couperin (1668–1733): La Française, for two violins and basso continuo

Marin Marais (1656–1728) Arabesque for viola da gamba and basso continuo

Marin Marais: Sonnerie de Sainte Genevieve, for violin, viola da gamba, and basso continuo

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: From ‘Pièces de clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le violon’ (1707): La Flamande, Sarabande, Rigaudons

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre: Trio Sonata for two violins and basso continuo in C minor

two violins, viola da gamba, harpsichord (and theorbo)

The Seven Last Words

Joseph Haydn: The Seven Last Words of our Saviour on the Cross,
with readings from poetry and prose

string quartet

Foreign invasions

A programme with a Scottish twist that explores the music written by foreign composers in England in the seventeenth and eighteenth century

Georg Friedrich Handel: Sonata in G minor
James Oswald: The Poppy
Nicola Matteis: Suite in A minor
Turlough O’Carolan: Sheebeg and Sheemore
James Oswald: Serenata
Nicola Matteis: Ground after the Scotch Humour
Francesco Geminiani: Lady Ann Bothwets Lament and Sleepy Body
Georg Friedrich Handel: Allemande in F major
Francesco Geminiani: Sonata opus 5, no. 2 in D minor
Georg Friedrich Handel: Sonata in D major

violin, cello, harpsichord

The Seasons

A concert of music by Vivaldi, Biber, Guido, and others. This is programmatic music, expressing the themes of nature. You will hear cuckoos, nightingales, frogs, ducks, and thunder too. Although some of these composers are not well known, this is music that will appeal to anyone – and especially to children. This programme can be adapted to all seasons according to the time of the year that your concert takes place.

Giovanni Antonio Guido (c.1680–c.1730): ‘Spring’ from Scherzi armonici sopra le quattro staggioni dell’anno (c.1725)

H.I.F. Biber (1644–1704), ‘Sonata representativa’ for violin & continuo in A major (1669?)

Carlo Farina (c.1600–1639): Capriccio stravagante (1627)

Gregor Joseph Werner (1693–1766): ‘July’ (‘Il lùglio’) from Musicalischer Instrumental-Calender (1748)

Pietro Nardini (1722–93): Duetto no. 3 for two violins

Antonio Vivaldi (1678–1741): ‘Summer’ from Le quattro stagioni (c.1720)

three violins, viola, cello, harpsichord

Italy versus France

Lully, Corelli, Muffat, and the styles reunited

Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–87): Ouverture and chaconne from Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme
Jean Henry d’Anglebert (1629–91): Tombeau de M. de Chambonnières
Jean-Féry Rebel (1666–1747): Tombeau de M. de Lully
Robert de Visée (c.1655–c.1732): Prelude and musette
Georg Muffat (1653–1704): Blanditiae from Florilegium secundum
Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713): Trio sonata, op. 2, no. 12
Bernardo Pasquini (1637–1710): Toccata
François Couperin (1668–1733): Apothéose de Corelli
Georg Muffat: Armonico tributo: Sonata II

two violins, two violas, cello/gamba, harpsichord and theorbo

Venice to Hamburg

How the Italian improvisatory ‘stylus fantasticus’ travelled from Italy to Germany

Giovanni Valentini (1582–1649): Sonata à 4 in G minor
Giovanni Valentini: Canzon in D minor for cornetto, trombone, and basso continuo
Johann Jakob Froberger (1616–67): Toccata no. 2 in D minor for harpsichord
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (c.1620–80): ‘La Cariolatta’, sonata à 4 in G major
Johann Heinrich Schmelzer: Sonata no. 3 in G minor for violin and basso continuo
Matthias Weckmann (c.1620–74): Sonata no. 3 à 4 in C major
Biagio Marini (1594–1663): ‘La Rizza’, canzone à 4 in D minor
Philipp Friedrich Böddecker (1607–83): Sonata sopra ‘La Monica’ in G minor for dulcian, violin and basso continuo
Biagio Marini: ‘La Monica’ in D minor
Matthias Weckmann: Toccata in E minor for harpsichord
Antonio Bertali (c.1605–69): Chaconne in C major for violin and basso continuo
Matthias Weckmann: Sonata no. 9 à 4 in D minor

violin, cornetto, sackbut, dulcian, harpsichord/organ, theorbo

An Italian in Paris (2)

A rich banquet of private music, with an Italian flavour, for Louis XIV. This programme features the first known Sonata to have been composed in France, the Sonata by M.A. Charpentier for eight instruments.

François Couperin (1668–1733): La Pucelle
Jean-Baptiste Lully (1632–87) (attr.): Chaconne in C major
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729): Sonata IV in C minor
Marin Marais (1656–1728): Prélude in E minor
Jean-Féry Rebel (1666–1747): Violin Sonata in E minor, no. 4
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676–1749): Chaconne in D major
François Duval (1672–1728): Suite in G major
Angelo Michele Bartolotti (fl. 1640–80): Chaconne for guitar in C major
Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643–1704): Sonata in C major for eight instruments

two flutes, two violins, viola da gamba, basse de violon à cinq cordes, theorbo, harpsichord

A Grand Tour of Europe

Music by French, English, German, and Italian composers that one might have heard on an eighteenth-century ‘grand tour’

Nicola Matteis (c.1670–c.1715): Ground after the Scotch humour

Nicola Matteis: Suite in A minor 

Christopher Simpson (c.1605–69): Divisions for Gamba

Arcangelo Corelli (1653–1713): Sonata 

Antonio Bertali (c.1605–69): Chaconne

Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676–1749): Chaconne

Marin Marais (1656–1728): Tableau de l’opération de la taille

Robert de Visée (1655–1732): Prélude 

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729): Sonata

Marin Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève du Mont de Paris

violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord and/or theorbo

Pour le souper du roi

This programme paints a musical picture of the chamber music presented to Louis XIV by his favourite composers. Composers who were allowed into the inner circle of the king were given the title ‘musicien pour la chambre du Roy’: their tasks included providing music for the king in his private rooms. Some of the best chamber music of the period was written for these occasions.

Louis-Nicolas Clérembault (1676–1749): Chaconne in D major, for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo
Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729): Sonata in D minor for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo
Marin Marais (1656–1728): Tableau de l’opération de la taille for viola da gamba and basso continuo
Marin Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève du Mont de Paris for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo
Jean-Henri d’Anglebert (1666–1747): Prelude in G major, for harpsichord solo
Jean-Féry Rebel (1666–1747), Sonata in E minor for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo
Antoine Forqueray (1672–1745): ‘La Rameau’ for viola da gamba and basso continuo
Jean Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): Pieces de clavecin en concert no. 5 for harpsichord, violin and viola da gamba

violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord and/or theorbo

Biber’s Rosary Sonatas

H.I.F. Biber wrote 15 Rosary Sonatas, which fall into three groups, corresponding to liturgical season: Joyful (leading up to Christmas), Sorrowful (Lent, leading up to Easter), and Glorious (Pentecost or Whitsun). We can give these as three concerts, preferably in the appropriate season, or can make a selection for one concert.

Heinrich Ignaz Franz Biber (1644–1704):

The Joyful Mysteries
The Annunciation
The Visitation
The Nativity
The Presentation in the Temple
Jesus in the Temple

The Sorrowful Mysteries
The Agony in the Garden
The Scourging of Jesus
The Crowning with Thorns
The Carrying of the Cross
The Crucifixion

The Glorious Mysteries
The Resurrection
The Ascension
The Descent of the Holy Ghost
The Assumption of the Virgin
The Coronation of the Virgin

violin, organ