French Organ Music Volume One
David Ponsford (organ)
This is, or would have been a fine period instrument, its remarkable history described in some detail. Alas this is an all too familiar tale of neglect and alteration over the years, but the...
French Organ Music Volume One
David Ponsford (organ)
Purchase product
This is, or would have been a fine period instrument, its remarkable history described in some detail. Alas this is an all too familiar tale of neglect and alteration over the years, but the...
About
French organ music from the period of Louis XIV to the Revolution has always held fascination for performers and listeners alike. The kaleidoscope of colours, the rich and varied styles, and the sheer exuberance of the music never fail to captivate. Yet, performance practice of this music has never been fully understood. David Ponsford has spent much of his career studying this repertoire, resulting in his book French Organ Music in the Reign of Louis XIV (Cambridge University Press, 2011). The present series of recordings, including the music of Louis Couperin, André Raison, Jacques Boyvin, François Couperin, Nicolas de Grigny, Louis Marchand, Louis-Nicolas Clérambault, up to composers of the Revolution such as Balbastre, Beauvarlet Charpentier and Lesceux, is therefore the fruit of many years of research by a seasoned performer whose aim is to combine technical brilliance with intellectual understanding, to bring the music alive with authority and meaning.
Contents and tracklist
- David Ponsford
- David Ponsford
- David Ponsford
- David Ponsford
- David Ponsford
- David Ponsford
Awards and reviews
January 2013
This is, or would have been a fine period instrument, its remarkable history described in some detail. Alas this is an all too familiar tale of neglect and alteration over the years, but the instrument has recently been rebuilt...
I particularly like the throaty pedal tones and breadth of contrast to be heard in this recording, and while the stereo spread isn’t particularly wide the human scale of the music is superbly voiced.