The complete harpsichord music of Forqueray is a powerful statement from one of the great harpsichordists and Early Music personalities of today. This music really triggers Ketil Haugsand – and the result is stunning.
Jealousy
In the late 1600s, the music family Forqueray was well established at the court of The Sun King Louis XIV. The new Italian style was the latest fashion, and father Antoine was a gamba virtuoso. His son Jean Baptiste very quickly developed an even greater talent, evolving into the new favourite of the king. The father developed an enormous jealousy towards his son and had him imprisoned under false accusations in 1715 – and even exiled from France ten years later.
Jackpot
When father Antoine died, it only took two years before his son published the outstanding music for gamba written by his father, adding his own transcriptions and adaptations for the harpsichord. This combination turned out to make tremendous economical sense as the name of his father and the gamba gave tremendous credibility, while the harpsichord was the new and hot instrument at the time. The composer himself comments in letters that to preserve the original character of the pieces, they are put a little deep in the register. The result is a full-bodied sound that really grabs hold of the listener.
Professor Ketil Haugsand
Ketil Haugsand, professor of harpsichord at the Hochschule für Musik in Cologne, counts as one of the great harpsichordists and Early Music personalities of today. The Norwegian born musician studied among others with Gustav Leonhardt at the Amsterdam Conservatory, where he was awarded the coveted ‘Prix d’Excellence’. He has recorded extensively in repertoire including Bach, Rameau, Marchand, Seixas and Sousa Carvalho. Haugsand has built the instrument used on this recording himself, based on a Late-Flemish type instrument.
