Dieupart in Britain

 

Fernando Miguel Jalôto explores works by French composer Charles Dieupart, teacher to ‘some of the best families’ in Britain and involved in the intense theatrical and operatic scene

Description

French composer Charles Dieupart (c.1667-c.1740) was born in Paris, and by the turn of the century had become the harpsichord teacher to a British noblewoman living in France: Elizabeth Wilmot, Countess of Sandwich. This connection prompted Dieupart to look for work in England, where he got involved with the intense theatrical and operatic scene in London, at the Drury Lane Theatre and the Queen’s Theatre, but he gradually retired from public appearance as Handel’s reputation rose. John Hawkins wrote that Dieupart, ‘teaching the harpsichord, and in the capacity of a master of that instrument, had admission into some of the best families in the kingdom.’ His main musical output and masterpiece is the collection of Six Suittes de Clavessin published in 1701 and the most influential harpsichord music in England before Handel’s suites from 1720. These works are best known today because of they supposed influence on JS Bach’s English Suites. Dieupart’s suites are all outstanding in quality and the equal of the best contemporary works in similar styles, illustrating perfectly the transition between two worlds and two centuries. They certainly deserve to be better known and more often performed. Portuguese harpsichordist Fernando Miguel Jalôto performs.

Programme
Charles Dieupart (ca.1667-ca.1740)
Suittes de Clavessin

Première Suite in A major
Ouverture, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Menuet, Gigue

Quatrième Suite in E minor
Ouverture, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Menuet, Gigue

Sixième Suite in F minor
Ouverture, Allemande, Courante, Sarabande, Gavotte, Menuet, Gigue