Viol Dreaming - The Marais Project

This new Australian CD is beautifully executed. The performances and recording show evidence of superb craftsmanship and musicianship. The booklet is attractive and comprehensive, giving detailed information about the music performed and those playing it.

Viol Dreaming features two pieces commissioned by The Marais Project: Matthew Perry’s Nocturnal and Kevin Hunt’s To the Holy Spirit. Both of these are settings of James McAuley poems, the latter work proving to be the most challenging for listeners not familiar with contemporary classical music.

But the rest of the works are French Renaissance and Baroque works written to be played on the viola da gamba, a fretted instrument something like a cello, which was popular in the 15th to 18th Centuries. I think many readers will find the music on this album surprising. It does not sound like the late Baroque works of Bach and Handel, but has its own gentle style which may take some adjusting to. All of the instruments have a different, more subtle sound from the instruments which replaced them later.

This is the first CD by the group, whose core members are Jennifer Eriksson (founder and director), Cathy Tabrett and Daniel Yeadon, all of whom play viola da gamba. The group is rounded out by contributions from well-known early music exponent Tommie Andersson and soprano Belinda Montgomery. Swedish-born Tommie plays theorbo (bass lute), baroque guitar and chitarrino (small four-stringed guitar) on this recording.

The reason the group came together in 2000 is to fulfil Jenny’s dream of performing the complete works of Marin Marais (1656-1728), the French virtuoso gambist and composer featured in the film Tous les Matins du Monde (All the Mornings of the World). Two of his delightful viol suites appear on this recording. In the second one, the fourth movement, Le petite badinage, is a theorbo solo, transcribed by Andersson. This instrument is not always clearly heard on the concert stage, due to its usually subservient role, so it is wonderful to be able to hear it on its own here.

The interesting photos of ceramics in the booklet were provided by Paul and Barbara Campbell-Allen, members of St John’s, Darlinghurst. Jenny and Cathy would like readers to know that they are also active in St Annes’, Ryde and St Thomas’, North Sydney. They do not primarily work in churches, but are Christian professional musicians exercising their talents to the glory of God in their performing and recording.

If you find this short description whets your appetite, I’m sure you will find the music itself intriguing and satisfying. It would also make a most interesting gift for a friend who enjoys classical music.

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