Piaces de viole

"As an introduction to Marais's art this is hard to fault - a real treat."
- Gramophone

Imagine waking up in the morning to a live performance of the most beautiful music in existence. This was the reality for Louis XIV, the Sun King, who kept a band of musicians especially for his bedroom. One of these, seated behind a curtain next to the royal bed, was Marin Marais, the incomparable master of the viola da gamba. During 46 years he served at the court, writing and performing music which he also collected for publication, for instance in his five books of "Pieces for the viol". This varied selection of works from the second of these books includes Couplets de folies - 32 brief, but intensely stirring, variations of the harmonic progression known as 'La Folia' - as well as the more introvert and melancholy elegy for monsieur de Sainte Colombe,
the composer's teacher. And through it all gamba player Markku
Luolajan-Mikkola and his colleagues offer all listeners the opportunity
to play at being king for a while!