This 2-CD set, performed on the harpsichord by the eminent keyboard player Ketil Haugsand, features music written for the viola da gamba by Antoine Forqueray, a popular musician in the court of Louis XIV, arranged by his son, the composer Jean-Baptiste Forqueray.

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 harpsichord used on this recording himself and has based it on a Late-Flemish type instrument.

In the late 1600s, the musical 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 viola da gamba virtuoso. When Antoine died, his son Jean-Baptiste published his father’s music for gamba, adding his own transcriptions and adaptations for the harpsichord.

Contents:
CD 1:
Suite No.1
I. Allemande. La Laborde. Noblement
II. La Forqueray. Vivement et d’aplomb
III. La Cottin. Galamment sans lenteur
IV. La Bellmont. Avec Gout et sans lenteur
V. La Portugaise. Marqué et d’aplomb
VI. La Couperin. Noblement et marqué

Suite No.2
I. La Bouron. Vivement et détaché
II. La Mandoline. Point trop vite et d’aplomb
III. La du Breüil. Louré
IV. La Leclair. Tres vivement et détaché
V. La Buisson. Chaconne. Gratieusement

Suite No.3
I. La Ferrand. Détaché, et d’une belle éxécu
II. La Regente. Noblement et Soutenu
III. La Tronchin. Mouvement aisé
IV. La Angrave. Tres vivement
V. La du Vaucel. Tres tendrement
VI. La Eynaud. Fierement
VII. La Morangis ou La Plissay. Mouvement de

CD 2:
Suite No.4
I. La Marella. Vivement et Marque
II. La Clément. Noblement et détaché
III. Sarabande. La D’aubonne
IV. La Bournonville. Mouvement elevé
V. La Saincy. Gracieusement et avec Esprit
VI. Le Carillon de Passy. Légérement sans vit
VII. La Latour. D’un mouvement unpeu plus vif que
VIII. Le Carillon, d.c.

Suite No.5
I. La Rameau. Majesteusement
II. La Guignon. Vivement et détaché
III. La Léon. Sarabande. Tendrement
IV. La Boisson. Vivement, les pincés bien so
V. La Montigni. Galamment sans lenteur
VI. La Sylva. Tres tendrement
VII. Jupiter. Modérément