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celebrating three hundred years of music by women |
Élizabeth Claude Jacquet de la Guerre (1665-1729)
Élizabeth Claude Jacquet de la Guerre was a composer and harpsichordist, the first French woman to publish a book of harpsichord pieces and the first to compose an opera; her five-act tragedy Céphale et Procris was performed at the Académie Royale de Musique in March 1694. At the age of five, she performed for King Louis XIV, and was singled out for special favour by him; he always encouraged her career, giving audience to her performances and permitting her to dedicate her publications to him. She was described by the Mercure galant in 1678 as 'the marvel of our century'. The biographer Titon du Tillet wrote that "all the great musicians and fine connoisseurs went eagerly to hear her... She had above all a talent for improvising and for playing fantasias extemporaneously." She wrote volumes of harpsichord pieces, a ballet, an opera, solo violin sonatas, books of Cantatas based on Old Testament stories, and Cantatas based on mythological and allegorical subjects. She was featured on BBC Radio 3's Composer of the Week in 2015.The Dunedin Consort included three of her Cantatas in 2023 Out of Her Mouth. Her works have been re-issued by Hildegard.com, and by Furore-Verlag.de. Judith and Jonas can be found on IMSLP. Céphale et Procris is de la Guerre's only surviving stage work; based on Ovid's Metamorphoses, it is an ill-fated love story. Comprised of a Prologue celebrating the King's glory, and five acts, her opera fits well within the tragédie lyrique tradition, which Lully established, and it also exhibits traits of the next generation of composers. She provides a unique contribution to the genre by incorporating silence for dramatic effect in the opera's poignant final scene. The Choeur de Chambre de Namur recorded it on the Chateau de Versailles Spectacle label, CVS119; it was revived by Grimeborn Opera in 2023; and it can be seen on Youtube. Sonata No 2 for violin & harpsichord, 1707 1. Presto, D major. 2. Adagio, D minor. 3. Presto, D major. 4. Presto, D major A classic baroque sonata, with lively fast movements, and a beautiful Adagio. Published by Furore-Verlag.de. Scores Sonatas and Cantatas published by Hildegard.com, and Furore-Verlag.de. Céphale et Procris A-R Editions. Susanne Editions Classique. Writing Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre’s Céphale et Procris: A Woman’s Shade in the Sun King's Court Veronica K Rice, 2021. Sacred Vocal Works, and: Three Sacred Cantatas: Esther, Susanne, Judith, and: Secular Vocal Works David Tunlet, 2007. Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729): femme compositeur ou compositrice ? Catherine Cessac, 2019. Actes Sud. Céphale et Procris, lyrical tragedy, 1694. An Introduction to Elisabeth-Claude Jacquet de la Guerre by Edith Borroff. (Volume 12. Institute of Medieval Music; Musicological Studies). Recordings The Paris Album Ensemble Diderot, including G minor Sonata. Jacquet de La Guerre: Complete Harpsichord Works Francesca Lanfranco. Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre - Chamber Music; Musica Fiorita /Daniela Dolci on Pan Classics. Violin Sonatas (1707) by Elizabeth Jacquet de la Guerre; Lina Tur Bonet on Pan Classics 10380. Céphale et Procris, Chateau de Versailles, Opéra français No 21. Violin Sonatas, Dana Maiben violin; Sarah Cunningham viola da gamba; Lisa Goode Crawford harpsichord; Centaur Records. Violin Sonatas, Les Dominos, Florence Malgoire on Ricercar RIC142. For more information on Élizabeth de la Guerre from the web, try this link.
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