Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin, Vol. 1 Steven Devine

• Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin (1706), Suite in A minor
• 1I. Prélude02:21
• 2II. Allemande I05:28
• 3III. Allemande II02:09
• 4IV. Courante02:02
• 5V. Gigue02:47
• 6VI. Sarabande I & II03:24
• 7VII. Vénitienne01:54
• 8VIII. Gavotte01:36
• 9IX. Menuet01:27
• Pièces de Clavessin (1724): Suite in E minor
• 10I. Allemande04:15
• 11II. Courante01:35
• 12III. Gigue en rondeau I01:14
• 13IV. Gigue en rondeau II02:11
• 14V. Le Rappel des Oiseaux03:39
• 15VI. Rigaudon I & II01:51
• 16VII. Musette en rondeau02:29
• 17VIII. Tambourin01:18
• 18IX. La Villageoise (Rondeau)03:35
• Suite in D minor/major
• 19I. Les Tendres Plaintes (Rondeau)03:45
• 20II. Les Niais de Sologne (with 2 Doubles)06:16
• 21III. Les Soupirs05:21
• 22IV. La Joyeuse (Rondeau)01:24
• 23V. La Follette (Rondeau)01:33
• 24VI. L'Entretien des Muses06:13
• 25VII. Les Tourbillons (Rondeau)02:59
• 26VIII. Les Cyclopes (Rondeau)03:48
• 27IX. Le Lardon00:56
• 28X. La Boiteuse00:53
• Menuet en Rondeau
• 29Menuet en Rondeau01:01
• Total Runtime01:19:24

Info for Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin, Vol. 1

The celebrated harpsichordist Steven Devine makes his Resonus debut with the first of three significant volumes surveying the keyboard works of the French Baroque composer Jean-Philippe Rameau (1683-1764).

A vital milestone in the harpsichord repertoire, Devine here presents the first two books of Rameau's Pièces de Clavecin - the 1706 Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin and the 1724 Pièces de Clavessin. Ranging from the more traditional dance movements of the earlier book to the sophisticated and forward-looking character pieces of the second book, Rameau's solo keyboard works always present a rich feast for the ear.

Released in the 250th anniversary of the composer's death, Devine performs on a copy by Ian Tucker of an instrument by Andreas Ruckers (1636) with ravalement by Henri Hemsch (1763).

Steven Devine, harpsichord

Recorded in St John the Evangelist, Iffley Road, Oxford on 2-3 December 2013 Produced, engineered and edited by Adam Binks

Steven Devine
enjoys a busy career as a music director and keyboard player working with some of the finest musicians.

He made his London conducting debut in 2002 at the Royal Albert Hall and is now a regular performer there - including making his BBC Proms directing debut in August 2007 with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment (OAE). He has conducted the Mozart Festival Orchestra in every major concert hall in the UK and also across Switzerland. Steven is Music Director for New Chamber Opera in Oxford and with them has conducted performances of Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas, Mozart’s La Finta Semplice and Il Re Pastore, Stradella’s Il Trespolo Tutore, Rossini’s Le Comte Ory, Handel’s Xerxes and Tamerlano, Arne’s Artaxerxes, and Galuppi’s Il Mondo alla Roversa. He has directed the first performance of the newly-acquired score of Cavalli’s Erismena and Salieri’s Falstaff with the same forces. For the Dartington Festival Opera he has conducted Handel’s Orlando and Purcell’s Dido and Aeneas.

Since 2007 Steven has been the harpsichordist with London Baroque in addition to his position as Co-Principal keyboard player with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment. He is also the principal keyboard player for The Gonzaga Band, Apollo and Pan, The Classical Opera Company and performs regularly with many other groups around Europe. He has recorded over thirty discs with other artists and ensembles and made a number of solo recordings. His recording of Bach’s Goldberg Variations (Chandos Records) has been receiving critical acclaim - including Gramophone magazine describing it as ‘among the best’.

Steven is a regular member of the OAE education team, Professor of Harpsichord and Fortepiano at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and a visiting teacher, adjudicator and examiner for many other institutions. He is also Director of Development for the Finchcocks Collection of historical keyboard instruments, Kent.

Booklet for Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin, Vol. 1