Jordi Savall, Wieland Kuijken - Sieur De Sainte Colombe : Concerts A Deux Violes Esgales

Jaw-dropping recordings of  Sieur Sainte-Colombe's pieces for two viols. Interpreted by Wieland Kuijken and Jordi Savall on revered French label Astrée. 

Founded in 1975, Astrée is one of the most beautiful and consistent label of XVIIe century music of its time, especially in its early years. Created by Michel Bernstein, the man who founded Valois in the late 1950's, a pioneering label in ancient music, it was home to some groundbreaking recordings, including a series of viol pieces played by Jordi Savall.

The quality of the work put into the mid-1970's recordings is astonishing, from the art direction to the recording techniques, these Astrée LP's don't offer the bright and slick sound major labels, like Philips, invested thousands of dollars to provide, but rather a profound, cavernous one that suits perfectly the solemnity of the pieces recorded. 

Interpreted by Jordi Savall and Wieland Kuijken, two of the most brilliant viol players of their generation, these "Concerts à Deux Violes Esgales" were composed by Sieur Sainte Colombe. Little is known about Marin Marais's viol teacher, but he nonetheless inspired a very successful biographical novel by Pascal Guignard, Tous Les Matins du Monde, that eventually popularized viol music amongst a broader audience. Recorded in the Romanesque church of Saint-Lamber des Bois in january 1976, that is a month after the recording of Astrée's inaugural release, it shares with the previous Jordi Savall's releases that same profound, sorrowful quality. Beautiful gatefold edition. Highest recommendation! (VG+/VG+)