FIRST and FOREMOST | 20th September

About FIRST and FOREMOST | 20th September

Consonus Baroque presents a varied and colourful selection of works, all of which are the first in a series of a set of pieces for each composer.

F X Richter’s 1st Harpsichord Trio is a charming piece written in the transitional period between the late baroque and early classical style. Although his music remains unfamiliar to most, F X Richter was well regarded in his lifetime and admired and respected by Mozart.

Couperin’s Concerts Royaux no.1 was written for the esteemed court of Louis XIV, and was first played by Couperin himself. The instrumentation is flexible, to be played by solo harpsichord or by adding treble and bass instruments to suit the available musicians or circumstances. It is a delightful suite of dances.

Rameau’s Pièces de Clavecin en Concerts no.1 was written 28 years after the Couperin, and places the harpsichord as the solo instrument, much as Richter did another 25 years after him. It is written for harpsichord, violin and viola da gamba, with the option of the violin part to be replaced by the flute. The music is infused with Rameau’s wit and musical warmth, with each of the three movements being inspired by a person or place which held particular importance to him.

Finally, we will play the first of Bach’s organ sonatas, arranged for Consonus Baroque by our cellist, Ben Hess. It rounds off our programme with a piece of unparalleled chamber music by the baroque master himself.