Jean-Luc Ho’s latest opus, Walsingham, is dedicated to William Byrd’s works for keyboard instruments. It follows two records devoted to Albinoni’s violin sonatas, accompanied by Guillaume Rebinguet-Sudre and Claire Gratton (ECL1302), and to Bach and Couperin’s pieces for harpsichord (ECL1101), which were released, in 2014 and 2012 respectively, by L’Encelade, a label which was set up to release baroque music in 2010.

Remaining true to his interest in authentic techniques, Jean-Luc Ho plays a harpsichord using meantone tuning inspired by the Renaissance model in order to get as close as possible to the sound world of the period.

William Byrd is a pivotal composer, linking the Renaissance and baroque styles, and one of the most important representatives of the English school of music for keyboard instruments. He studied with Tallis, was appointed a Gentleman of the Chapel Royal in 1572 and Elizabeth I granted him (together with his master) numerous musical privileges starting in 1575.

The programme recorded includes extracts from his various books. Jean-Luc Ho developed a passion for old keyboard instruments when he was still very young and began learning the harpsichord at the age of eight, then the organ followed by the clavichord. He won prizes at the Paris Conservatoire-CNSMDP in 2006 (first prizes, for harpsichord with Olivier Baumont, and for basso continuo with Blandine Rannou).

"Jean-Luc Ho’s playing is compelling and committed. His ornaments are stylistically appropriate and blend well into the flow of the music. He successfully seeks out the various mood of the wide variety of pieces, and plays with a nicely relaxed sense of pulse and momentum." - Andrew Benson-Wilson