The Elector of Bavaria
Donald Macleod focuses on Elisabeth's Jacquet de la Guerre's musical relationship with the Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian II, who became a patron of hers in the early 18th century.
As part of Radio 3's celebration of female composers marking International Women's Day, this week Donald Macleod explores with Mary Cyr, the life and music of Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, hailed by scholars as one of the most successful women in the history of French music.
Jacquet de La Guerre had apartments on the Ile Saint Louis, where she would hold regular musical gatherings for discerning patrons. These concerts would also be a testing ground for her own chamber music, such as her Trio Sonata No 4 in G minor. In 1707 she published a set of violin sonatas, which she dedicated to the Sun King, Louis XIV. It was around this period that another patron came into her life; The Elector of Bavaria, Maximilian II, had taken asylum just outside Paris. Jacquet de La Guerre socialised with Maximilian, sometimes performing music together. She dedicated her third book of cantatas to him, which includes Le Sommeil d'Ulisse. This cantata might have been designed to reflect Maximilian's own situation, and includes themes of misfortune and wandering.
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Music Played
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Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre
Sonata no. 4 in G major for violin and continuo
Ensemble: Musica Fiorita.- PAN: 5101212.
- PAN.
- 17.
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Elisabeth Jacquet de la Guerre
Suite in D minor for keyboard [from "Pieces de clavecin",1707]
Performer: Elizabeth Farr.- Naxos: 8557654.
- Naxos.
- 16.
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Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre
Sonata no. 1 in D minor for violin and continuo
Performer: Bertrand Cuiller. Performer: Benjamin Perrot. Conductor: Emmanuel Mandrin.- Mirare: MIR105.
- Mirare.
- 7.
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Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre
Le Sommeil d’Ulissel, from Cantates francoises, Livre premier
Performer: Ann Marie Morgan. Performer: Vivian Montgomery. Performer: Julie Andrijeski. Singer: Janet Youngdahl.- Centuar: CRC2670.
- Centuar.
- 26.
Broadcasts
- Thu 5 Mar 201512:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 5 Mar 201518:30BBC Radio 3
- Thu 23 Jun 201612:00BBC Radio 3
- Thu 23 Jun 201618:30BBC Radio 3
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