The harpsichord music of Jean-Henri D’Anglebert boasts an extraordinary richness of texture and a dense tapestry of ornaments. The many small ornamental figures, liberally added like embroidery to the dances that make up the majority of the harpsichord pieces, result in a sumptuous variety of detail, an elegant subtlety that mirrors the elegance and richness of Louis XIV’s court. Yet underneath this brocade of ornamentation, D’Anglebert’s music is fundamentally both simple and lyrical.
The three Suites presented on this album offer a rich combination of passion and turbulence coupled with a reflective and at times majestic soundscape. The range of experience offered by D’Anglebert is impressive as the listener is urged along from periods of introspection to episodes of agitated brilliance.