Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre: The Violin Sonatas of 1707
The publication by Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre of six Violin Sonatas in 1707 was a landmark event in French music. The music of "Mademoiselle Delaguerre" was dedicated to Louis XIV, and the Sun King attended its first performance.
"Dinner being over, His Majesty spoke to Mlle de la Guerre in a most gracious manner; after having praised her sonatas extensively, he said to her that they could not be compared to any other such works. Mlle de la Guerre could not have received higher praise, for these words revealed that the King had not only found her music to be most fine, but also to be original — a quality that today is extremely rare."
These are among the first violin sonatas in which the harpsichord makes the move from being part of the continuo, towards an obligato role, becoming a true partner of the violin, which would eventually reach its zenith in the publication 34 years later of Jean-Philippe Rameau's Pièces de clavecin en concerts.
These are wonderful performances, with Dana Maiben playing a beautifully-sounding Nicola Amati violin of 1658, Sarah Cunningham on viola da gamba, and Lisa Goode Crawford on harpsichord. This performance was recorded more than five years ago, in July 2017, but I don't believe it's been published in any other form. This is an important disc of important music, and the sense of occasion that comes when one listens to it makes it clear that it was definitely worth the wait.
I love Quinton McMillon's illustration on the album cover, based on the famous painting by François de Troy, which dates from the end of the 17th or the beginning of the 18th century.
This album will be released on January 20, 2023.
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