Marin Marais and Antoine Forqueray represent the two leading figures from the world of the French viola da gamba with – in the opinion of a contemporary in Hubert Le Blanc – the former playing like an angel and the latter like a devil. Fiendishly difficult to play, of course, are many of the pieces brought together in the volume prepared by Jean-Baptiste Forqueray (“le fils”) in 1747, two years after the death of his father, and drawn from sketches and memories. Glossa is now bringing back into circulation – in a newly-prepared edition – the recording which introduced Paolo Pandolfo to the label, where he was joined by a starry group of fellow performers in Guido Balestracci, Rolf Lislevand, Eduardo Egüez and Guido Morini. A legendary album, one which confirmed Pandolfo, now some 20 years ago, as one of the greatest viola da gambists of our own present times.

Track listing:

CD1
Première Suite
1. Allemande. La Laborde
2. La Forqueray
3. La Cottin
4. La Bellemont
5. La Portugaise
6. La Couperin
Deuxième Suite
7. La Bouron
8. La Mandoline
9. La Dubreüil
10. La Leclair
11. Chaconne. La Buisson
Quatrième Suite
12. La Marella
13. La Clement
14. Sarabande. La D’Aubonne
15. La Bournonville
16. La Sainscy
17. Le Carillon de Passy
18. La Latour
19. Le Carillon de Passy

CD2
Troisième Suite
1. La Ferrand
2. La Regente
3. La Tronchin
4. La Angrave
5. La Du Vaucel
6. La Eynaud
7. Chaconne. La Morangis ou La Plissay
Cinquième Suite
8. La Rameau
9. La Guignon
10. La Léon. Sarabande
11. La Boisson
12. La Montigni
13. La Silva
14. Jupiter