Karl Friedrich Abel: Sonata d minor/D major (Ralph Rousseau)

Описание: Karl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787) wrote a number of amazing solo pieces for the viola da gamba. They can be loosely arranged into sonatas and this is an example: 1. Arpeggio; 2. Fuga; 3. Adagio; 4. Allegro. The recording was made live, without any editing.

Confluentes:
Viola da gamba music from 1553 to the present day:

“With this recording I wanted to go back to my original fascination with the 6- or 7-stringed bass viol. Ever since I first heard the instrument in the early 1990’s, I knew that this was the sound that I wanted and I have devoted the bigger part of my professional life to it. The solo sound of the instrument especially has always inspired me to no end.

But in going back to the original fascination, I also wanted to conduct two experiments: (1) to record an album absolutely free of any editing whatsoever and (2) to make it available for free on YouTube, without any money changing hands. So absolutely without edits and absolutely free.* Please feel free to share your views about these experiments being of not being successful!

The recording venue was easily selected and actually sparked the recording: the beautiful chapel of a St. Francis’ Convent in my home town of Utrecht. The brethren, some of whom I have known for many years now, have cooperated in any possible way. I have prayed with them many times in this chapel and it is a rare privilege to have been given the opportunity to make this recording in this sacred place.

The music has more or less selected itself: I wanted to start with some of the very early viola da gamba music by Ortiz and end with some pieces that contemporary composers have dedicated to me. And the centuries in between are covered by the music of much-loved viol composers as Abel, Hume, Forqueray, Schenck, and of course Marais. It all flowed together naturally: confluentes.

The recording process was very, very simple: my good friend Fritz de With set up his video and audio equipment and I played every pieces a few times. Afterwards, we just picked what we considered to be the best versions. Again: without any editing. Everything you hear is exactly the way it was played. A rare occurrence these days!

I gave everything I have in this process, and this is it. I can only hope you like it.”

Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks, October 2014. Photo: Jan Baks

*If so desired, the high-resolution files can be purchased for a very modest amount from www.magnatune.com.


Track listing:

Tobias Hume (ca. 1569-1645):
Captaine Humes Pavan (1605)* 4’59
The Spirit of Gambo (1605)* 2’38

Diego Ortiz (ca. 1510-1570):
Recercada 1 g minor (1553)* 1’54

Johan Schenk (ca. 1660-1712):
Allemande d minor (1688)* 3’05

Marin Marais (1656-1728):
Chaconne F major
(Troisième livre de pièces de viole) 3’22

Karl Friedrich Abel (1723-1787):
Sonata d minor/D major* 10’26
Introduction
Fuga
Adagio
Allegro

Marin Marais (1656-1728):
Le Badinage
(Quatrième livre de pièces de viole) 3’44

Daan Manneke (1939 -)
Tombeau (2010, dedicated to Ralph) 3’38

Antoine Forqueray (1671-1745):
La Leclair G major 3’25

Flint Juventino Beppe (1972 -)
Lying on a ledge (1997) 7’44

Diego Ortiz (ca. 1510-1570):
Recercada 2 g minor (1553) 1’58

Louis de Caix d’Hervelois (ca. 1680-1760)
Allegro g minor 2’12

Anonymus
Maria durch das Dornwald ging 1’33


Total playing time: 50’29

Recorded on Saturday, Oct 18, 2014 in the Chapel of the St. Francis’s Convent in Utrecht.

Every track was recorded live as is, without any editing!

Recording and video engineer: Fritz de With (www.sts-digital.nl)

Instruments:
Bass viola da gamba (6 string) by Georg Aman (early 18th Century) on asterisk tracks.
Bass viola da gamba (7 string) by Reinhard Ossenbrunner (2003) on other tracks.

Thanks to:
The Franciscan Brethren in Utrecht (Herman, Ton, Piet, Ed, Lucas, Felix, Jos, and Frans) for their fantastic cooperation, Jan Baks, Fritz de With, Thijmen Jacobse, Flint Juventino Beppe, and Daan Manneke.

www.ralphrousseau.com

Photo: Jan Baks
Chapel Photos: Fritz de With