Baroque journey to the heart of the North

Before public concerts became the norm, 17th-century chamber music was performed in salons and at court, among musicians and discerning music lovers.
The Ensemble Les Boréades brings this world to life with a program dedicated to English and German music of the period: Locke, Purcell, and Blow rub shoulders with Reincken, Schmelzer, and Buxtehude in a natural dialogue between two parallel traditions. Recorders, violin, viola da gamba, and harpsichord form an ensemble of rare delicacy.
An intimate concert, performed by four leading Quebec musicians.

Matthew Locke (v.1621-1677)
Fantasia from Suite No. 5 in G minor, Consort of Four Parts (manus., v.1655)
Suite No. 2 in G major, Compositions for Broken and Whole Consorts (manus., s.d.)
Fantasia from Suite No. 2 in D minor, Consorts of Four Parts (manus., v.1655)

Henry Purcell (1659-1695)
Sonata a 4 No. 6 in [B] minor, Z. 807, 10 Sonatas of Four Parts

John Blow (1649-1708)
Sonata a 4 in A major (manus., s.d.)
Sonata a 4 in G major (manus., s.d.)

Johann Adam Reincken (1643-1722)
Trio Sonata for soprano recorder, violin and continuo in A minor, Hortus musicus, [excerpt]

Johann Heinrich Schmelzer (v.1620-1680)
Sonata for violin and continuo No. 4 in [A] major, Sonatæ unarum fidium

Dietrich Buxtehude (1637-1707)
Trio Sonata in B-flat major Op. 1 No. 4, BuxWV 255, VII Trio Sonatas

Francis Colpron, recorders
Olivier Brault, violin
Mélisande Corriveau, viola da gamba
Christophe Gauthier, harpsichord