Artist: Ensemble Arabesques
Théodore Gouvy Kammermusik
Year Of Release: 2025
Label: Farao Classics
Genre: Classical
Quality: flac lossless (tracks)
Total Time: 01:07:42
Total Size: 297 mb

Tracklist

01. Nonetto: I. Introduction & Allegro
02. Nonetto: II. Intermezzo alla polacca
03. Nonetto: III. Elégie
04. Nonetto: IV. Finale
05. Sérénade en octuor: I. Pastorale
06. Sérénade en octuor: II. Intermezzo
07. Sérénade en octuor: III. Canzonetta
08. Sérénade en octuor: IV. Rondo giocoso
09. Septuor: I. Adagio - Allegro
10. Septuor: II. Scherzo
11. Septuor: III. Andante
12. Septuor: IV. Finale. Allegro

Théodore Gouvy, a composer hailing from Saarland-Lorraine, combines French grace, elegance, and clarity of structure with German depth and thoroughness. His work chiefly consists of symphonic and chamber music; he shaped the French wind school and influenced neoclassicism. With his septet, octets, and nonets, Gouvy anticipates modern ensembles that would only really come into their own at the turn of the twentieth century. As a bilingual musician, he straddled the cultures of Germany and France and acted as a true musical link between the two countries. This twofold cultural connection influenced his artistic orientation and shaped the special profile of his oeuvre. Gouvy was as well known, recognized, and respected in France as he was in Germany, but was too German for one and too French for the other, such that neither nation really claimed him for its own. Despite his brilliant career, he was unjustly forgotten in the twentieth century.

In 2017, the ensemble arabesques launched the concept idea of dedicating an album to composers with a penchant for wind instruments. The series was inaugurated with the highly successful album Gustav Holst Kammermusik. This was followed in 2019 by repertoire by Francis Poulenc, who was known for his love of woodwind instruments. In 2021, the ensemble devoted itself to Jacques Ibert. Similar to Holst, Ibert's special charm lies in his different ensemble settings featuring woodwind instruments, strings, and harp.

Ensemble arabesques:
Eva Maria Thiébaud, flute
Nicolas Thiébaud, oboe
Manuel Bilz, oboe
Andreas Langenbuch, clarinet
Christoph Schneider, clarinet
Alison Balls, horn
Joan Valeriano Güell, horn
Ulrich Hermann, bassoon
Augusto Palumbo, bassoon
Leon Silas Gärtner, bassoon
Tobias Grove, double bass