Jeux Musicaux

Passacaglia Trio present a selection of beautiful and characterful music from the court of the Sun King at Versailles, inspired by Louis XIV’s fascination with games, patterns and ‘play’ of all kinds.

The programme will include curious pieces such as Marin Marais’s playful viol piece Jeu de Volant, François Couperin’s enigmatic harpsichord solo Les Barricades Mystérieuses, and Jacques Hotteterre’s famous whimsical flute solo, Echos, imitating the sounds of nature. In the instrumental Suites of composers including Monteclair and Dornel we will delve into the courtly dance music beloved of the King, discovering the intricate patterns of the stately Sarabande, the elegant Gavotte and the kaleidoscopic Chaconne and Passacaille. And in an extra twist for chess-lovers, we introduce music by Pierre Phildor, whose uncle, François-André, was one of the greatest chess masters of all time, and whose suites for flute and basso continuo rate amongst the most ravishingly beautiful in the repertoire.