This duo program with Vittorio Ghielmi explores the world of Ernst Christian Hesse and his son Ludwig Christian Hesse, two figures who stood at the crossroads between the French viol tradition and the emerging virtuoso style of the German courts. The title refers to the famous contrast often associated with Marin Marais and Antoine Forqueray — the “angel” and the “devil” of the viol — two opposing aesthetics whose echoes can still be felt in the music cultivated by the Hesse family. At the centre of the program are works from the late Baroque and early Berlin classical tradition, including Telemann, Rameau and rare repertoire connected to the court of Frederick the Great. The result is a program of extremes: elegance and fire, nobility and daring, lyricism and theatrical brilliance.

Georg Philipp Telemann (1681-1767)

Partie Polonoise à viole a la basse

Ouverture – Harlequinade – Combattans – Hanaque-Sarrois – Rigidon – Le Ris – Gigue

 

Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764)

Arrangements for 2 viola da gamba and basso continuo by Ludwig Christian Hesse (1716-1772)

Ouverture– Air lentement – Musettes en Rondeau – Tambourin en Rondeau

 

Anonymus, 18. Jh (J.B.Forqueray?)

Manuscript Vm7 6297 from the Bibliothèque Nationale de France

Sonata quinta due viole senza basso
Largo – Allegro—Largo – Giga Allegro

 

Christoph Schaffrath (1709-1763)

Duo for 2 viola da gamba in d-minor

Poco – Allegro – Adagio – Allegro

 

Johann Gottlieb Graun (1703-1771)

Trio a due viola da gamba e basso in G-Major

Adagio – Allegro – Allegro