Rameau Pièces de clavecin Vol. 2 Steven Devine

• 1 Allemande 06:56
• 2 Courante 04:01
• 3 Sarabande 02:45
• 4 Les Trois Mains 05:07
• 5 Fanfarinette 03:00
• 6 La Triomphante 01:42
• 7 Gavotte & Doubles 08:19
• 8 Les Tricotets (Rondeau) 02:53
• 9 L’Indifférente 02:06
• 10 Menuet I & II 04:04
• 11 La Poule 07:16
• 12 Les Triolets 03:30
• 13 Les Sauvages 02:19
• 14 L’Enharmonique 08:49
• 15 L’Egyptienne 03:50
• Total Runtime 01:06:37

Info for Rameau Pièces de clavecin Vol. 2

The celebrated harpsichordist Steven Devine makes his Resonus debut with the first of three significant volumes surveying the keyboard works of the French Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764).

A vital milestone in the harpsichord repertoire, Devine here presents the first two books of Rameau's Pièces de Clavecin - the 1706 Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin and the 1724 Pièces de Clavessin. Ranging from the more traditional dance movements of the earlier book to the sophisticated and forward-looking character pieces of the second book, Rameau's solo keyboard works always present a rich feast for the ear.

Released in the 250th anniversary of the composer's death, Devine performs on a copy by Ian Tucker of an instrument by Andreas Ruckers (1636) with ravalement by Henri Hemsch (1763).

„Devine“ is authoritative, suave, technically dazzling and delivers immaculately manicured ornaments that lend brilliance and expressive introspection when required [...] an invigorating addition to the Rameau year. Roll on volumes two and three!“ (BBC Music Magazine, Five stars, performance & sound)

„The harpsichord's sonoroities are clear and penetrating yet never strident, and lend themselves both to the music and and to Devine's meticulous technique [...] The recorded ambience is clear and discreetly resonant.“ (Gramophone)

„I’m pleased to see not only that [Devine] has turned his attention to Rameau but that this is billed as Volume 1 of an ongoing series [...] you can hardly go wrong“. (MusicWeb International)

„Steven Devine’s approach is muscular and the sound large and often bold.“ (Lark Reviews)

Steven Devine, harpsichord

Steven Devine
enjoys a busy career as a music director and keyboard player working with some of the finest musicians.

He made his London conducting debut in 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall and is now a regular performer there - including making his BBC Proms directing debut in August 2007 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE). He has conducted the Mozart Festival Orchestra in every major concert hall in the UK and also across Switzerland. Steven is Music Director for New Chamber Opera in Oxford and with them has conducted performances of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Mozart’s La Finta Semplice and Il Re Pastore, Stradella’s Il Trespolo Tutore, Rossini’s Le Comte Ory, Handel’s Xerxes and Tamerlano, Arne’s Artaxerxes, and Galuppi’s Il Mondo alla Roversa. He has directed the first performance of the newly-acquired score of Cavalli’s Erismena and Salieri’s Falstaff with the same forces. For the Dartington Festival Opera he has conducted Handel’s Orlando and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.

Since 2007 Steven has been the harpsichordist with London Baroque in addition to his position as Co-Principal keyboard player with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He is also the principal keyboard player for The Gonzaga Band, Apollo and Pan, The Classical Opera Company and performs regularly with many other groups around Europe. He has recorded over thirty discs with other artists and ensembles and made a number of solo recordings. His recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations (Chandos Records) has been receiving critical acclaim - including Gramophone magazine describing it as ‘among the best’.

Steven is a regular member of the OAE education team, Professor of Harpsichord and Fortepiano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and a visiting teacher, adjudicator and examiner for many other institutions. He is also Director of Development for the Finchcocks Collection of historical keyboard instruments, Kent.

Booklet for Rameau Pièces de clavecin Vol. 2