"With this recording I wanted to go back to my original fascination with the 6- or 7-stringed bass viol. Ever since I first heard the instrument in the early 1990's, I knew that this was the sound that I wanted and I have devoted the bigger part of my professional life to it. The solo sound of the instrument especially has always inspired me to no end.

The recording venue was easily selected and actually sparked the recording: the beautiful chapel of a St. Francis' Convent in my home town of Utrecht. The brethren, some of whom I have known for many years now, have cooperated in every possible way. I have prayed with them many times in this chapel and it is a rare privilege to have been given the opportunity to make this recording in this sacred place.

The music has more or less selected itself: I wanted to start with some of the very early viola da gamba music by Diego Ortiz and end with some pieces that contemporary composers have dedicated to me. And the centuries in between are covered by the music of much-loved viol composers as Carl Friedrich Abel, Tobias Hume, Antoine Forqueray, Johannes Schenck, and of course Marin Marais. It all flowed together naturally: confluentes.

The recording process was very, very simple: my good friend Fritz de With set up his video and audio equipment and I played every piece a few times. Afterwards, we just picked what we considered to be the best version. Again: without any editing. Everything you hear is exactly the way it was played. A rare occurrence these days!

I gave everything I have in this process, and this is it. I can only hope you like it."

Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks, October 2014.

Cover art photograph of Ralph courtesy of Jan Baks

1. Captaine Hume's Pavan (Tobias Hume)
2. The Spirit of Gambo (Tobias Hume)
3. Recercada 1 in g minor (Diego Ortiz)
4. Allemande in d minor (Johannes Schenck)
5. Chaconne in F major Troisieme livre de pieces de viole (Marin Marais)
6. Sonata d minor D major (Carl Friedrich Abel)
7. Le Badinage Quatrieme livre de pieces de viole (Marin Marais)
8. Tombeau (Daan Manneke)
9. La Leclair in G major (Antoine Forqueray)
10. Lying on a ledge (Flint Juventino Beppe)
11. Recercada 2 in g minor (Diego Ortiz)
12. Allegro in g minor (Louis de Caix d'Hervelois)
13. Farewell to Dornwald (Anon)

Listen to: the entire album.

Release date: 02/08/2015
Ralph Rousseau Meulenbroeks lives in Amsterdam Netherlands

Tagged as: Classical, Baroque, Renaissance, Instrumental, Composer: Antoine Forqueray, Composer: Carl Friedrich Abel, Composer: Diego Ortiz, Composer: Johannes Schenck, Composer: Louis de Caix d'Hervelois, Composer: Marin Marais, Composer: Tobias Hume, Viola da Gamba

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