Pieces de viole
Encyclopedia
Pièces de viole were collections of suites for bass viol and usually continuo written by several French Baroque
composers, most notably Marin Marais
, whose five Livres form a core of the viol repertoire.
Early pièces did not include continuo parts; examples of these may be found in the oeuvres of Sieur de Sainte-Colombe and Nicolas Hotman
. Derived from lute and theorbo music, they often featured preludes sans mesures, and virtuosic bowed trills, whilst remaining French in their dance rhythms and melodies. Formally they also mirrored the pièces de clavecin
being written by virtuoso harpsichordists.
Marais and his contemporaries further established a uniquely French tradition of virtuosic pieces for viol and continuo. The pièces were typically written in dance forms like the Allemande
, Gavotte
, Sarabande
, and Gigue
, augmented by a Prélude
or a Fantaisie and with additional character pieces like Plaintes and Tombeaux.
Composers who wrote Pièces de viole:
Baroque
The Baroque is a period and the style that used exaggerated motion and clear, easily interpreted detail to produce drama, tension, exuberance, and grandeur in sculpture, painting, literature, dance, and music...
composers, most notably Marin Marais
Marin Marais
Marin Marais was a French composer and viol player. He studied composition with Jean-Baptiste Lully, often conducting his operas, and with master of the bass viol Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe for 6 months. He was hired as a musician in 1676 to the royal court of Versailles...
, whose five Livres form a core of the viol repertoire.
Early pièces did not include continuo parts; examples of these may be found in the oeuvres of Sieur de Sainte-Colombe and Nicolas Hotman
Nicolas Hotman
Nicolas Hotman was a Baroque composer, who spent most of his career in France. He is believed to have been from Germany, but was probably born in Brussels. He came with his family to Paris around 1626....
. Derived from lute and theorbo music, they often featured preludes sans mesures, and virtuosic bowed trills, whilst remaining French in their dance rhythms and melodies. Formally they also mirrored the pièces de clavecin
Pièces de Clavecin
The French Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau wrote three books of Pièces de clavecin for the harpsichord. The first, Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin, was published in 1706; the second, Pièces de Clavessin, in 1724; and the third, Nouvelles Suites de Pièces de Clavecin, in 1726 or 1727...
being written by virtuoso harpsichordists.
Marais and his contemporaries further established a uniquely French tradition of virtuosic pieces for viol and continuo. The pièces were typically written in dance forms like the Allemande
Allemande
An allemande is one of the most popular instrumental dance forms in Baroque music, and a standard element of a suite...
, Gavotte
Gavotte
The gavotte originated as a French folk dance, taking its name from the Gavot people of the Pays de Gap region of Dauphiné, where the dance originated. It is notated in 4/4 or 2/2 time and is of moderate tempo...
, Sarabande
Sarabande
In music, the sarabande is a dance in triple metre. The second and third beats of each measure are often tied, giving the dance a distinctive rhythm of quarter notes and eighth notes in alternation...
, and Gigue
Gigue
The gigue or giga is a lively baroque dance originating from the British jig. It was imported into France in the mid-17th century and usually appears at the end of a suite...
, augmented by a Prélude
Prelude
Prelude may refer to:*Sheaffer Prelude, a series of fountain pens, ballpoints and rollerball pens made by the Sheaffer Pen company*Prelude , a musical form*Prelude , an English based folk band...
or a Fantaisie and with additional character pieces like Plaintes and Tombeaux.
Composers who wrote Pièces de viole:
- Sieur de Sainte-Colombe
- Sieur de Sainte-Colombe le Fils
- Marin MaraisMarin MaraisMarin Marais was a French composer and viol player. He studied composition with Jean-Baptiste Lully, often conducting his operas, and with master of the bass viol Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe for 6 months. He was hired as a musician in 1676 to the royal court of Versailles...
- Sieur de Machy
- Sieur de Danoville
- François CouperinFrançois CouperinFrançois Couperin was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented Couperin family.-Life:Couperin was born in Paris...
- Louis de Caix d'HerveloisLouis de Caix d'HerveloisLouis de Caix d'Hervelois was a composer of chamber music.-Biography:Caix d'Hervelois wrote music almost exclusively for the viol. Most of his other works exist as transcriptions from his viol music. A native of the north of France, almost nothing is known of his life...
- Joseph Bodin de BoismortierJoseph Bodin de BoismortierJoseph Bodin de Boismortier was a French baroque composer of instrumental music, cantatas, opéra-ballets, and vocal music...
- Antoine ForquerayAntoine ForquerayAntoine Forqueray was a French composer and virtuoso of the viola da gamba.Forqueray, born in Paris, was the first in a line of composers who included his brother Michel and his sons Jean-Baptiste and Nicolas Gilles...
- Jean-Baptiste ForquerayJean-Baptiste ForquerayJean-Baptiste Forqueray , the son of Antoine Forqueray, was a player of the viol and a composer.Forqueray was born in Paris. He is most famous today for his 1747 publication of twenty-nine pieces for viol and continuo which he attributed to his father...
- Charles DolléCharles DolléCharles Dollé was a French viol player and composer. Very little is known about his life. He was active in Paris and was a sought-after teacher of viol...
- Roland MaraisRoland MaraisRoland Pierre Marais was a French viol player and composer, son of Marin Marais.His compositions are written in a style similar to his father's.-External links:*...