Output details

Double CD recording of a newly-discovered manuscript of keyboard music by Antoine Selosse

The chance discovery of the Selosse manuscript in 2004 is arguably the most important recent find of Baroque keyboard music. This world premiere recording of its contents significantly adds to our understanding of the dissemination of keyboard music between England and the continent in the later-seventeenth century. The musical contents and unclear provenance beg many pertinent and key questions regarding the performance of keyboard music at this time. The pieces are largely untitled, requiring forensic investigation of their style before being defined in terms of their genre and allocated to an instrumental colour.

In consultation with Dr Peter Leech, who discovered the manuscript, a new performing edition was prepared. Appropriate historic instruments or suitable modern reconstructions were located for the recording and the contents were allocated to harpsichord, organ or clavichord sound. It was decided to record some of the presumed secular music on the organ to demonstrate the ‘cross-over’ of styles between the domestic music making and the public but non-liturgical use of church organs.

The CD reveals the high level of compositional sophistication in the manuscript and the sensitivity of its compiler(s) to other national styles, suggesting an even greater awareness of European trends within English keyboard music than has been previously thought. This is clear, for example, through the apparent influence of Italian music. The recording scrutinises the veracity or otherwise of the Leech editions of 2008 and 2009 and where necessary provides alternative readings.

Deux-Elles CDs are distributed internationally. This CD also has a strong internet presence through my webpage, http://homepage.ntlworld.com/terence.charlston/Selosse.htm.

Concert performances, radio broadcasts, scholarly discussion, presentations and key-note conference address have followed this recording. This CD has had an extremely high impact not only amongst specialist audiences, but also with those more broadly interested in historical performance and the general listening public.