Another engaging and enjoyable release
from the redoubtable team at Hortus
brings us an interesting anonymous French
Magnificat from around 1750 together
with some better known organ Noels.
The Magnificat follows rather in the
vein of the famous Messe de minuit of
Charpentier written some sixty years
earlier, in that all the material is
based on much used, and loved, French
carol tunes. The composer is unknown,
the score being found in the Bibliothèque
National de France. Only the vocal parts
of the score are complete, the instrumental
score often consisting of just upper
and lower parts, the middle parts to
be played ad lib by the performers.
Here the missing elements have been
completed by Daniel Bouldjoua. In addition
to the usual violins and gambas, the
double-bass makes an early appearance
in French baroque music, and the scoring
is further enriched by two recorders.
Each part of the text is allied cleverly
to a carol tune, 'Fecit potentiam' for
instance to the easily recognisable
melody 'Bourgeois de Chastres'. The
magnificat is stylishly, dare I suggest
slightly rustic-ly, performed by the
sixteen-piece Swiss vocal group La Camerata
Baroque, together with the Arabesque
ensemble. Listen also for the wonderfully
clear and unassuming singing of Polish
soprano Agnieszka Kowalczyk in the 'Suscepit
Israel', though indeed all the soloists
are excellent.
The coupling features the charming organ
playing of Daniel Meylan, who plays
Noels by Daquin, Dandrieu, Corrette
and Balbastre on the 1768 Boillot organ
at St Jean-de-Losne. Meylan's playing
is lithe and sophisticated, with beautiful
ornamentation. Particularly appealing
is the pathos of the Daquin 'Noël
sur les flutes'. And what flutes! This
organ is surely another little known
treasure of 18th century French organ
building. Here it is featured in repertoire
which to my ear suits it far better
than the earlier, more usually played
- and undoubtedly more important - literature
of Couperin and especially de Grigny.
Despite the playing time being too short
- 52 minutes is not enough! - this is
very recommendable.
Chris Bragg