L'Achéron / François Joubert-Caillet

François Joubert-Caillet, bass viol
Pernelle Marzorati, harp

While melancholy and inwardness are often the hallmarks of the viola da gamba repertoire, the musicians who played it in the past were just as renowned for the depth of their singing as for their prowess as seasoned improvisers: from the Renaissance to the Enlightenment, whether in Italy, Spain, France, Germany or England, improvisation was everywhere!

As in jazz, where songs are used as a basis for improvisation, vocal music (madrigals, motets) from the 16th century was an enormous source of improvisation for violinists (Ancor que col partire or Une jeune fillette, for example), as was religious music, where improvisation was based on cantus firmus ( La Spagna or In Nomine , for example), obstinate basses (Folies d'Espagne, Chaconne, Passamezzo, Romanesca, etc.), but also arias based onmelodies from the Renaissance. ), but also arias based on free dances or basses (sarabande, courante, grounds, etc.).

A fan of improvisation, which he has already showcased in his programme ‘Grounds, a baroque big band’, François Joubert Caillet aims to do justice to the solo improvisation repertoire in a concert that is both festive and virtuoso, varied and timeless, using this fundamental practice of music to unite centuries and nations, at least in music.