In a personal introduction to his own authoritative booklet essay, the Spanish violist Alejandro MarÃas relates how he acquired the rare facsimile of an even rarer manuscript, and came to realize that it's contents had never seen the light of day in the modern era, let alone received attention on record. Thus he presents here the First Book of pieces - a second does not survive - by Jacques Morel. The volume itself was published in 1709, two years before Marin Marais's Third Book of pieces. Morel's date of birth is now obscured by time, but we know that he was this book. And indeed Morel makes no a pupil of Marais, to whom he dedicated attempt to disguise the debt he felt to his master within his music. The book contains four Suites for viola da gamba and continuo - in A minor, D minor, D major and G major, respectively - and a Chaconne en trio for a traverso flute, viol and basso continuo. This gentle and courtly six-minute Chaconne is the only piece of Morel's that is regularly performed, but the four Suites are full of delightful discoveries. The second of them begins with a Prelude of bold and grave gestures which introduce a colorful suite of character pieces: the Allemande la Jolie ('The pretty one'), the Courante la Dacier, a gentle, dream-like Sarabande and the Gigue l'Inconstante ('The faithless one'). To end, there is an enjoyable rondeau, Le Folet ('The imp'), and La Fanchonnette, reminiscent of a gavotte in feel and structure. The other three suites are no less picturesque, and they are brought to life once more on this album by an early-music group founded in 2009 and named after a popular Renaissance dance. La Spagna has been awarded Spain's GEMA prize for best young Early Music group.

Tracklist:

Suite No. 1 In A Minor: I. Prélude. Lentement - Vîte
Suite No. 1 In A Minor: II. Allemande
Suite No. 1 In A Minor: III. Courante
Suite No. 1 In A Minor: IV. Sarabande L'agréable
Suite No. 1 In A Minor: V. Gigue
Suite No. 1 In A Minor: VI. La Bretonne. Gratieusement
Suite No. 1 In A Minor: VII. Menuets I & II
Suite No. 2 In D Minor: I. Prélude
Suite No. 2 In D Minor: II. Allemande La Jolie
Suite No. 2 In D Minor: III. Courante La Dacier
Suite No. 2 In D Minor: IV. Sarabande
Suite No. 2 In D Minor: V. Gigue L'inconstante
Suite No. 2 In D Minor: VI. Le Follet
Suite No. 2 In D Minor: VII. La Fanchonette
Suite No. 3 In D Major: I. Prélude
Suite No. 3 In D Major: II. Boutade De Sainct Germain
Suite No. 3 In D Major: III. Allemande La Brillante & Double
Suite No. 3 In D Major: IV. Courante
Suite No. 3 In D Major: V. Sarabande L'aurore
Suite No. 3 In D Major: VI. Gigue À L'anglaise
Suite No. 3 In D Major: VII. Gavotte
Suite No. 3 In D Major: VIII. Fugue. Gayment
Suite No. 3 In D Major: Échos De Fontainebleau
Suite No. 4 In G Major: I. Prélude. Lentement
Suite No. 4 In G Major: II. Fantaisie. Gayement
Suite No. 4 In G Major: III. Allemande
Suite No. 4 In G Major: IV. Courante
Suite No. 4 In G Major: V. Sarabande
Suite No. 4 In G Major: VI. Gigue À L'italienne
Suite No. 4 In G Major: VII. Rondeau Dauphin
Suite No. 4 In G Major: VIII. Menuet
Suite No. 4 In G Major: IX. La Guerandoise & Double
Chaconne En Trio In G Major

UPC: 5028421959627
Label: Brilliant Classics
Release Date: 5.3.19
Format: CD

Morel / Spagna / Marias - Premier Livre de Pieces Violle (CD)