Parant: Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin

The apogee of the French harpsichord came in the 18th century with the publication of the musical works of François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau, the two leading representatives of the French harpsichord school. These were followed by numerous livres de clavecin written by a new generation of composers such as Claude Balbastre, Pancrace Royer, Jacques Duphly and Michel Corrette.

It is within this rococo-galant context, which marked the final glory days of the harpsichord, that we encounter the music of Jean-Baptiste Parant, a composer for whom only scant biographical details are known. Parant’s Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin, published in 1762, contains 16 pieces written in the light and carefree rococo style, which makes them a true reflection of the music that would have been heard at this time in the salons of aristocrats and patrons such as the Prince de Conti and Monsieur de La Pouplinière or at the literary salons of Madame du Deffand, Julie Lespinasse and Madame Geoffrin.The titles of the pieces allude to persons from Parant’s circle, such as La Angôt and De la Bauve, or to places such as Passy (most probably a reference to the Château de Passy, the residence of the aforementioned important and very wealthy musical patron Alexandre de La Pouplinière) and Lyons (‘La Lionoise’). His sources of inspiration are also to be seen in such evocative titles as ‘Les Cascades’, ‘La Majestueuse’ or ‘La Pétulante’. Running throughout his music are the dances most commonly to be found in French suites, such as the menuet, rondeau, allemande, gavotte and lourée.

Other information:
- Recorded July 2022 in Girona, Spain
- First complete recording of Parant’s Premier Livre de PieÌces de Clavecin
- Bilingual booklet in English and Spanish contains liner notes by the artist, written with Guillermo Turina, as well as a profile of the artist

- The peak of the French harpsichord came in the 18th century with the publication of the music of François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau as the leading representatives of the French harpsichord school. They were followed by numerous harpsichord books written by a new generation of composers such as Claude Balbastre, Joseph-Nicolas-Pancrace Royer, Jacques Duphly and Michel Corrette.
- It is in this rococo and gallant context, which constitutes the last glorious period of the harpsichord, that we find the music of Jean- Baptiste Parant (ca. 1730-ca. 1780), whose biography is nearly completely unknown to us.
- His Premier Livre de Pièces de Clavecin, published in 1762, contains 16 pieces written in the fresh and carefree rococo style, a faithful reflection of the music of the time, which could be heard in the salons of aristocrats and patrons. The titles of the pieces allude to characters from Parant's environment, whereas we also find suggestive titles such as Les Cascades, La Majestueuse or La Pétulante. All his suites present the common dances of the French Suites: Menuet, Rondeau, Allemande, Gavotte, Lourée, etc.
- Eva del Campo Basso received her musical education in Spain and France. She was the winner of the VIII International Early Music Competition of Gijón 2018 and subsequently she worked with specialists in the Early Music such as Enrico Onofri, Christophe Coin, Ottavio Dantone, Alfredo Bernardini, Paul Goodwin and Gilles Colliard.