Sacred Art

Available for 29 days

Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729) was a pioneer in the history of music, one of the first to bring sonatas and cantatas into the French repertoire, and the first woman in France to compose a performed opera. She explored and pushed further the possibilities of musical composition, as well as writing some of the most beautiful pieces of the Baroque era. She worked under the patronage of the most powerful figures of this Grand Siècle that saw the absolute reign of Louis XIV and the construction of his dreamed Versailles. And yet, there are still many elements of mystery and unknown in this composer's story. Kate Molleson invites you to (re)discover the extraordinary adventures of a gifted musician, with a soupçon of French flair and lots of gorgeous music. In this fourth episode, we see how Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre is among the first to develop the sonata in French music, and how she portrays legendary heroines in her series of cantatas. Sonata in A minor from Sonates en Trio et pour Violon Seul et Basse Continue (1695) II. Allegro – Bemol Ensemble La Rêveuse Benjamin Perrot, director Harpsichord Suite (No. 5) in D minor from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707) I. La Flamande II. Double Frances Conover Fitch, harpsichord Suite (No. 6) in G major from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707) Ensemble Amarillis Héloïse Gaillard, director Sonata No. 3 in F major from Sonates pour le Violon et pour le Clavecin (1707) II. Presto - Adagio III. Presto IV. Aria V. Adagio Ensemble La Rêveuse Benjamin Perrot, director Jonas (excerpts) from Cantates Françaises, sur des Sujets Tirés de l'Écriture; Livre Premier (1708) Isabelle Desrochers, soprano Chantal Rémillard, baroque violin Margaret Little, bass viol Dorothéa Ventura, positive organ/harpsichord Judith (excerpts) from Cantates Françaises, sur des Sujets Tirés de l'Écriture; Livre Premier (1708) Maïlys de Villoutreys, soprano) Ensemble Amarillis Héloïse Gaillard, director Presented by Kate Molleson Produced by Julien Rosa A BBC Audio Wales production for BBC Radio 3