Marin Marais:
Deuxieme livre de pieces de viole
Suite en mi mineur (arranged for solo viol)
Les Voix Humaines

Antoine Forqueray:
Pieces de Viole avec la Basse Continue Suite en do mineur

It was not uncommon for many 17th century painters to feature music making or musical instruments A lute or a viola da gamba in the artist's studio, a warm instrument beside the easel and rolled-up canvases, resting on the table stained with pigments, offering aid to concentration or recognition, carrying the promise of inspiration. The music on this album is certainly not meant for domestic music making of the type depicted in contemporary paintings – it makes huge demands on the performer and was composed by two of the greatest viola da gamba players in musical history. Johanna Rose’s latest album continues her exploration of the music by two of the most significant composers for the viola da gamba – Marin Marais and Antoine Forqueray. Marais ‘played like an angel, Forqueray like the devil’ commented one contemporary, Hubert Le Blanc. Forqueray’s music was also criticised for being ‘so difficult that only he and his son (Jean Baptist) can play it’ said the Mercure de France in 1738.