Totnes Early Music Society, St Mary’s Church, High Street, Totnes TQ9 5NN

This programme paints a musical picture of the chamber music presented to Louis XIV by his favourite composers. Composers who were allowed into the inner circle of the king were given the title ‘musicien pour la chambre du Roy’: their tasks included providing music for the king in his private rooms. Some of the best chamber music of the period was written for these occasions.

The music

Louis-Nicolas Clérembault (1676–1749): Chaconne in D major, for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo

Robert de Visée (1655–1732): Prélude in D minor for theorbo

Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665–1729): Sonata in D minor for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo

Marin Marais (1656–1728): L’Arabesque for viola da gamba and basso continuo

Marin Marais: Tableau de l’opération de la taille for viola da gamba and basso continuo

Joseph Marchand (1673–1747) Chaconne in G major

Robert de Visée: Courante in G major for theorbo

Jean-Féry Rebel (1666–1747), Sonata in E minor for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo

Antoine Forqueray (1672–1745): ‘La Rameau’ for viola da gamba and basso continuo

Marin Marais: Sonnerie de Ste Geneviève du Mont de Paris for violin, viola da gamba and basso continuo

The musicians

(Nicolette Moonen violin, Reiko Ichise viola da gamba, Lynda Sayce theorbo)