Marin Marais: Pour la Violle et le Théorbe

Marin Marais (Composer), Robert de Visee (Composer) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Composer: Marin Marais, Robert de Visee
• Audio CD (April 19, 2004)
• SPARS Code: DDD
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Sony
• ASIN: B0001K9IKC
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #75,878 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars very inviting pieces of music, December 19, 2007

By 

Dirkk (Minnesota) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Marin Marais: Pour la Violle et le Théorbe (Audio CD)

I have enjoyed the 30 sec samples and found this recording irresistable. There is a certain quality about the pieces that are warm and inspiring. I'm impressed with the performers and their interpretations. When I close my eyes and listen closely I hear a masterpiece at work! Wow!

4 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Average French Baroque Performance, October 28, 2005

By 

Octavius (United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Marin Marais: Pour la Violle et le Théorbe (Audio CD)

French Baroque is not a very well known style in performance circles either by the performers themselves or audiences. In particular, viola performances are probably the least known or heard. The viola da gamba is the cello's predecessor and prominent in both English and French Early-Mid Baroque. The instrument has greater range and resonance with 7 strings. There are probably fewer than 300 professional players performing on this instrument today. There are probably 4-5 who are the best and the musicians here are not even close to the talent of the undisputed and unmatched French master violist, Jordi Savall: there is absolutely no comparison.

The pieces here are mostly too slow in their interpretations of the meter and the players are simply not proficient enough to play most of them in terms of technique and knowledge of the French Baroque style. This is certainly one of the more decent interpretations on the market but listen to a sample of Savall's performances such as on the soundtrack to 'All The Mornings of The World' and the music will simply explain itself for you to make your descisions in buying French Baroque. He also has the best performance of Lully's 'Les Concerts Royaux' that I have ever heard: this man is nothing less than a prodigy in his art of the viola and his direction of French Baroque. I have the utmost respect for this man as an artist: he is truly a living legend.

For French Baroque in general and especially for Marin Marais or other viola composers, there is no other performer/conductor than Jordi Savall worth listening to. Especially for viola, his closest contenders are still motionless on the ground while he is flying circles in the stratosphere: there is simply no comparison and his virtuosity is exponentially superior to every one else's. Find out for yourselves and you will soon be agreeing with what I say. Since he/she didn't mention him by name, it seems that the previous reviewer has not heard of Savall and so I wouldn't give too much credence in his/her overgenerous ratings. Good luck in your search for great music!