Leclair’s Violin

When 67-year old Jean-Marie Leclair was stabbed to death in his garden on October 12, 1764, a reporter wrote that the murderer (or murderers) were “monsters who belong neither to their country nor their century.” Leclair, whose works are now rarely performed, was, next to Rameau, the most important composer during the reign of Louis XV. Leclair was a great violinist. Unlike Rameau, Leclair left us almost exclusively instrumental works: collections of sonatas for violin and for flute, trio sonatas, and concertos, all of very high quality. With their melodic beauty, careful harmony, sophisticated but never ponderous construction, and constantly interesting instrumental lines, Leclair’s works never lapse into the somewhat easy lightness of the galant style then fashionable.

Programme

• Jean Marie Leclair, Sonate for 2 violins and continuo in g minor opus 13 No 6
• Jean Marie Leclair, Sonate for flute and continuo in e minor opus 9 No 2
• Jean Marie Leclair, Sonate for violin and continuo in G major opus 1 No 8
• Jean Marie Leclair, Sonate for flute, viola de gamba and continuo in D major opus 2 No 8
• Jean Marie Leclair, Sonate for 2 violins without basso in b flat major opus 12 No 6
• Jean Marie Leclair, Second Recreation in music for flute, 2 violins and continuo in g minor, opus 8

Les Boréades de Montréal: Francis Colpron, flute; Olivier Brault, violin; Mélisande Corriveau, viola de gamba and cello; Eric Milnes, harpsichord