Pièces de Clavecin

http://www.renaud-bray.com

http://www.renaud-bray.com

*** Résumé en anglais seulement *** The Pièces de Clavecin by Charles De Mars (1702–1774) are written in the rich tradition of French Baroque harpsichord music. A composer largely overshadowed by luminaries like François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau, De Mars nonetheless contributed to the genre with his distinctive style, characterized by elegant ornamentation and a refined sense of harmony. ? De Mars’s harpsichord works are steeped in the galant aesthetic, bridging the ornate Baroque style with the more expressive and accessible traits of the early Classical peri- od. His music often features dance forms like the allemande, courante, and sarabande, which were central to the French clavecinistes. ? One of the hallmarks of his Pièces de Clavecin is his innovative use of ornaments, or agréments, which add a shimmering quality to the melodies. These works also reflect de Mars’s ability to evoke character and mood, making them miniature portraits of the 18th-century French musical ethos. ? Played by Simone Pierini on a harpsichord by Giulio Fratini after M. Mietke, 2014. Born in Rome in 1996, Pierini began studying music at the age of eight. Aged eighteen, he graduated in piano at S. Cecilia Conservatory of Music, Rome, with highest honors. He afterwards grew interest in historically informed piano practice, attending master- classes led by Alexei Lubimov, Andreas Staier, Tobias Koch, Stefano Fiuzzi. Subsequently, his interest about historical keyboards in general grew further, and he began studying harpsichord and basso continuo with such teachers as Andrea Coen and Giovanni Togni. His recordings with music by Cherubini and the complete piano sonatas by Hélène de Montgeroult were very positively received by the press. Classic FM nominated him as one of the 30 best musicians under 30 in 2024.