Concert preview by Jennifer Eriksson

Our final Marais Project concert for 2011 is a celebration of our instruments as much as the music we are presenting.  Back in 2002 I became the proud owner of a viola da gamba by Reinhard Ossenbrunner, one of the world’s finest living instrument makers.  Reinhard is a wonderful human being and when I flew over to pick up my new instrument he and his wife made me so welcome.  I was the first Australian they had ever met and simultaneously the first Australian, I believe, to own on an Ossenbrunner.

It is difficult to convey Reinhard’s elite status amongst professional gambists but perhaps one story will illustrate what I mean.  Several years ago Wieland Kuiken, who alongside Jordi Savall is arguably the greatest living gambist, toured Australia.  He was travelling without his instrument and borrowing instruments each time he was due to perform.  When Wieland arrived in Sydney it had been organised for him to make use of my instrument. I had played in master classes for Wieland several times in Europe so I delivered it to him one evening.  He took up the instrument, began to play and almost immediately his face looked puzzled.  “This is a lovely viola da gamba,” he muttered under his breath. He then looked at the label and exclaimed, “I don’t believe it, an Ossenbrunner in Australia.  Now I am very happy to play this concert!”

Recently Daniel Yeadon also purchased an Ossenbrunner and of course we wanted to put the “twins” on stage so as to hear them together.  Both our instruments are copies of an original ca. 1695 viola da gamba made by Michele Colichon, a renowned 17^th century French maker.

We have chosen some of our favourite music for two bass viols to show our instruments off.  We are also excited to be premiering a new work for two viols by young composer and gambist Alice Chance.  The final work for today, “The Ossenbrunner Express” is an arrangement of a song specifically chosen by Reinhard himself.  I asked him earlier this year what he would like to us to play in his honour and we have fulfilled his rather unusual request!

Program

• Sonata IX from “Le Nymphe di Rheno” (The Nymphs of the Rhine) – Johann Schenk (1660–1712).
  • Adagio
  • Aria (Allegro)
  • Tempo di Sarabanda (Adagio)
  • Giga
  • Bourée
  • Menuet

• Ma bell si ton âme – Anon. (published by j-B Besard in 1603).  Arranged by Tommie Andersson drawing on an arrangement by Jordi Savall.

• Concert XXI “Le Villageois” – Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe (1640 – 1690).
  • (Ouverture) Le Villageois
  • Menuet
  • Courante
  • Sarabande

• Fantasia for two bass viols and organ – John Coprario (1570-1626).

• O Pastor Animarum – Alice Chance (1994- ).
• Suite in G major for two viola da gambas and continuo (1er Livre – Paris 1686) – Marin Marais (1656-1728).
  • Prélude
  • Allemande
  • Courante
  • Sarabande
  • Gavotte en rondeau
  • Chaconne

• The Ossenbrunner Express – Music by Harry Warren (1893-1981), words by Mack Gordon; arranged for The Marais Project by Dan Walker (2011)

Background to Marin Marais and The Marais Project

Marin Marais (1656-1728) was one of the greatest viola da gambists of all times, a virtuoso and composer whose music is still performed more than 350 years after his birth.  The son of a shoe maker, Marais rose to great heights based solely on his musical talents.  He was employed as musician at the Court of Louis XIV in Versailles during the great era of the “Sun King” and wrote more than 600 works for the viola da gamba that are published in five books.  I formed The Marais Project in 2000 with the aim of playing Marais’ complete works as well as music by Marais’ contemporaries and other music for the viola da gamba.  We are currently about 80% through our task of presenting all of Marais, but then we have taken many delightful detours along the way!  The Marais Project has released two CDs and will release a third titled “Mara! meets Marais” later in 2011.