Music Runs in the Family

Elisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre (1665-1729) was a pioneer in the history of music, one of the first to bring sonatas and cantatas into the French repertoire, and the first woman in France to compose a performed opera. She explored and pushed further the possibilities of musical composition, as well as writing some of the most beautiful pieces of the Baroque era. She worked under the patronage of the most powerful figures of this Grand Siècle that saw the absolute reign of Louis XIV and the construction of his dreamed Versailles. And yet, there are still many elements of mystery and unknown in this composer's story. Kate Molleson invites you to (re)discover the extraordinary adventures of a gifted musician, with a soupçon of French flair and lots of gorgeous music.

In this first episode, a young Elisabeth Jacquet, born into a family of instrument makers and musicians from Paris, makes her performing debut. It's an event that makes quite an impression on the Sun King himself.

Harpsichord Suite (No. 6) in G major
from Pièces de Clavecin qui peuvent se jouer sur le Violon (1707)
IV. Gigue
Francesca Lanfranco, harpsichord

L'Isle de Délos ["The Island of Delos"] (excerpts)
from Cantates Françaises (1715)
Isabelle Desrochers, soprano
Ensemble des Idées heureuses

Harpsichord Suite (No. 2) in G minor
from Les Pièces de clavecin; Premier Livre (1687)
I. Prélude
II. Allemande
Elisabetta Guglielmin, harpsichord

Le Passage de la Mer Rouge ["The Crossing of the Red Sea"] (excerpts)
from Cantates Françaises, sur des Sujets Tirés de l'Écriture; Livre Premier (1708)
Luanda Siqueira, soprano
Le Tendre Amour

Sonata No. 1 in D minor
from Sonates pour le Violon et pour le Clavecin (1707)
Emmanuel Resche-Caserta, violin
Myriam Rignol, bass viol
Thomas Dunford, archluth
William Christie, harpsichord

Les Rossignols, dès que le Jour Commence (1721)
published in Recueil d'Airs Sérieux et à Boire de Différents Auteurs
Les Kapsber'girls

Harpsichord Suite (No. 1) in D minor
from Les Pièces de clavecin; Premier Livre (1687)
VII. Cannaris
VIII. Chaconne 'L’Inconstante'
Marie van Rhijn, harpsichord

Presented by Kate Molleson
Produced by Julien Rosa
A BBC Audio Wales production for BBC Radio 3