The Lady and the Sultan

In the 18th century the viol and the cello were in close competition with each other. Hubert Le Blanc, gentleman, Doctor of Law and an admirer of the viola da gamba, wrote a pamphlet in 1740 to defend the instrument against the 'enterprises of the violin and the pretensions of the violoncello'. He likened the violin to a foreign Sultan intent upon supplanting the refined and genteel Lady Viol. Italian music was the flavour du jour. What better instrument to express the sentiments of this new style than the instruments of the violin family?

Programme:
Marais Chaconne
Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe le Père Courante & Gigue for solo viol
François Couperin Second prélude en Ré Mineur from L'art de toucher le clavecin
Louis Marchand Chaconne in D minor
Vivaldi Sonata in B flat major for cello and continuo, RV 47: Largo – Allegro
Jean Daniel Braun Allemanda from 'Pièces sans basse'
Jacques Duphly La Forqueray
François Couperin Diziéme Concert from Les Goûts-réünis: Gravement et mesuré – Air Tendre et Louré – Plainte – La Tromba
Rameau Les Sauvages