Sun King's Paradise

Jean-Fery Rebel (Performer), Etienne Le Moine (Performer), Marin Marais (Performer), Francois Couperin (Artist), William Carter (Artist), S. Heinrich (Artist), Rachel Podger (Artist), Pamela Thorby (Artist), Palladian Ensemble (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Performer: Jean-Fery Rebel, Etienne Le Moine, Marin Marais
• Audio CD (February 15, 2000)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Linn Records
• ASIN: B00004BZ00
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #664,590 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Les Caractères de la danse, ballet

2. Prélude for theorbo

3. Chaconne for theorbo

4. Tombeau pour M. de Sainte-Colombe, for viola da gamba & continuo in E minor (Pièces de viole, Book II, No. 109)

5. Pièces de viole, Book V, for viola da gamba & continuo: Suite in D major for viol & theorbo

6. Pièces de viole, Book V, for viola da gamba & continuo: Suite in D major for viol & theorbo

7. Pièces de viole, Book V, for viola da gamba & continuo: Suite in D major for viol & theorbo

8. 15e ordre for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, III): Musette de Choisie & Musette de Tavernie

9. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

10. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

11. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

12. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

13. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

14. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

15. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

16. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

17. Pièces en trio, for 2 treble instruments & continuo: Suite in D major

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Elegant, soulful and frolicsome, November 27, 2002

By 

Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sun King's Paradise (Audio CD)

Another thoroughly enjoyable recording by the Palladian Ensemble! The Palladian Ensemble and Chatham Baroque have both released CDs of French music from the reign of Louis the XIV (this one and "Danse Royale" respectively). Although the selections differ, the tone is much the same, and well enough--this is beautiful stuff, and it is nice to be able to compare the interpretations of two such accomplished ensembles. If pressed, I would have to say that while the dual-violin-over-gamba-and-theorbo sound of Chatham Baroque is slightly richer than Palladian's pairing of violin and recorder over the same low instruments, Palladian's work is a bit more playful. Both groups make for utterly splendid listening, however--at once deeply relaxing and cheerfully invigorating. If you have a CD player that will randomly mix and match from multiple discs, buy them both and listen to them together for a double treat. Add a hot bath and a cold drink to the experience, especially when you're trying to de-stress, and I can't imagine you could get much closer to heaven!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The delights of 17th-century France, January 22, 2006

By 

Alan Lekan (Boulder, CO) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Sun King's Paradise (Audio CD)

Having produced marvelous recordings of the Baroque eras of Germany, Italy and England ("Trios for 4" and "A Choice Collection"), the Palladian Ensemble settle into the more relaxed, richly harmonic music of the French Baroque and the Court of Louis XIV ("The Sun King"). Featured are courty works by Rebel, Le Moine, Marais and the great Couperin. In the notes, theorbo player William Carter describes the differences in the music of this period in France: "What is it about this music that exerts such a particular fascination on musicians and listeners alike? Maybe it is the composer's constant awareness of and delight in the instrumental sonorities and colour. This delight in the subtle distinctions and love of timbre for its own sake is a source of pleasure in French music of our own time as well (Rameau through Berlioz and Debussy to Messian and Boulez). But perhaps it is simply the feeling (which can be rare in other styles of early music) that the composers were actually in love with the instruments for which they wrote. Whatever the reason, it is a pleasure for us to relax into this music which always rewards the performer as well as the listener."

Compared to their other recordings, this one has a notably calm mood and is full of alluring expression from all players. The piece of Le Moine is a beautiful work for solo theorbo while Marais gives two subtle works scored for bass viol and theorbo. Neither are in any hurry to prove anything beyond the sheer enjoyment and wonder of the rich tones the instruments exude. The opening "Les Caracteres de la Danse" is, yes, much about the dances of the Court which were elevated to a supreme place of importance by the King (who was supposedly a fine dancer). Its character is festive but with an intelligent compostional structure.

The Palladian Ensemble is in top form for these works and play them with a tangible sense of enjoyment - which is what the music is all about. Rachel Podger is one of the masters of the Baroque violin whose rich, lyrical, expressive and "sunny" tonality is perfect for this type of music. She is always a joy to hear (her Mozart sonatas might be the exception). But in the Baroque she is radient. The entire ensemble sounds superb and create rich textures and sonorities that - like William Carter notes - is just a pure pleasure to enjoy regardless of the musical intricacies or form. Part of the richness must be credited to the full-bodied and most realistic sound quality (in spite of the not-so-famous Linn label). So, while this music will not win any awards for its genius or revolutional impact, it is a simple treasure to hear every now and then to just enjoy the beauty of the instruments and imagine an era where dance and delight reigned in the Court of "The Sun King."