DESCRIPTION:
The Chaconne in A Major from Marin Marais' fifth book (Pièces de Viole, Cinquième Livre, Paris, 1725). Performed on the viola da gamba by Elisabeth Reed, with Cassandra Luckhardt, viola da gamba, and Katherine Heater, harpsichord.
In the first half of the 18th century, the French viol players dazzled audiences with their varied and beautifully crafted compositions as well as their technical abilities. Marais' chaconne shows the work of a mature composer; he balances the motivic elements perfectly with the registration of the instruments. HD Video from Voices of Music.