Purcell: Chaconne “3 Parts upon a Ground” | Ensemble La Fenice

Details

Description

A jewel of baroque music. The Chaconne “Three Parts upon a Ground”, Z.731 for 3 alto recorders and basso continuo by Henry Purcell is an extraordinary piece of music. It is performed here by the Ensemble La Fenice with Jean Tubéry, Mélanie Flahaut and Jean-François Novelli on the flutes. The concert took place in 2012 in the Chapelle de la Trinité in Lyon.

JEAN TUBÉRY | Alto Flute and Direction
MÉLANIE FLAHAUT | Alto Flute
JEAN-FRANÇOIS NOVELLI | Alto Flute
FRANÇOIS JOUBERT-CAILLET | Viola da Gamba
MATTHIAS SPAETER | Theorbo
PHILIPPE GRISVARD | Harpsichord

The chaconne “Three Parts upon a Ground”, Z.731 for 3 alto recorders and basso continuo by Henry Purcell (1659-1695) is mysterious in many respects. It is still not known why Purcell wrote it, nor exactly when it was composed, but probably around 1678. There are also two versions of it: one in F major for 3 alto recorders and basso continuo and another in D major for 3 violins and basso continuo. Musicologists also disagree on the genre. Some describe the work as a fantasia, others as a chaconne. In any case, “Three Parts upon a Ground” combines elements of the fantasia, i.e. a notated improvisation, with other musical idioms such as the chaconne, for which a constantly repeating bass line is typical. The Ensemble La Fenice has opted for the term chaconne.

Henry Purcell is considered the most important English composer of the Baroque period and enjoyed great fame and fortune during his lifetime. He was engaged as the organist at the Chapel Royal and Westminster Abbey. In the early years of his career, Purcell mainly composed sacred music and odes for royal ceremonial occasions. Many of his later works were inspired by the plays of William Shakespeare. One of the most famous of these is his opera “Dido and Aeneas.” Henry Purcell died in his mid-30s at the zenith of his creative life.

The Ensemble La Fenice was founded in 1990 by cornetist, flautist and conductor Jean Tubéry in Auxerre, France. The musicians specialize in music of the Baroque era played on period instruments.

© Karl More Productions/Festival de Musique Baroque de Lyon 2012

Enjoy more great pieces in your personal concert hall:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBV5A14dyRWy1KSkwcG8LEey

And in our playlist with Baroque music:
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PL_SdnzPd3eBXLyjR_MiLhm0kuiyjEcVG1

Subscribe to DW Classical Music:
https://www.youtube.com/dwclassicalmusic

#purcell #baroquemusic #periodinstruments