Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra The Baroque Adventure 2 CDs
The Quest for Arundo Donax
An enthralling orchestral escapade in 18th-century Europe – conceived and scripted by Tafelmusik double bassist Alison Mackay – Baroque Adventure: The Quest for Arundo Donax comprises 2 CDs featuring a story filled with adventure and intrigue superbly narrated by Blair Williams (in English) and by Albert Millaire (in French), with music clips underlining the action, brilliantly delivered by Tafelmusik. A bilingual 20-page, full-colour booklet featuring striking illustrations by Katy Lemay (using her distinctive eye-catching collage technique) is included, along with Baroque Delights, one of Tafelmusik’s most popular recordings previously released by Analekta.
Arundo donax is a bamboo-like plant native to France that is used to make reeds for musical instruments like oboes and bassoons. In 1704, Queen Anne of England is distraught: at war with France, the English are fast running out of arundo donax. When it’s all gone, so is the music! So the Queen sends two of her youngest subjects, Frances and Edward Purcell (children of the late composer Henry Purcell) on a quest for the famous plant. The journey takes them from Venice to Versailles. Along the way, they meet Antonio Vivaldi and Louis XIV, but also spies and many dangers. Will the youngsters succeed in their quest?
1 Henry Purcell: Overture To King Arthur (Slow) 0:45
2 Open Up… 0:57
3 Henry Purcell: Overture To King Arthur (Fast) 0:57
4 Frances, Edward, Thank Goodness… 0:24
5 Henry Purcell: Trumpet From King Arthur 0:45
6 Queen Anne Swept… 2:43
7 Henry Purcell: "Let The Soldiers Rejoice" From Dioclesian 1:41
8 Cello Secret Tune 0:08
9 Violin Secret Tune 1:06
10 Henry Purcell: "Triumphing Dance" From Dido And Aenas 1:05
11 Edward, Where Are You?... 0:37
12 Marin Marais: "Tempeste" From Alcione 1:21
13 Arcangelo Corelli: "Largo" From Concerto Grosso In F, Op. 6 No. 6 1:44
14 Arcangelo Corelli: "Allegro" From Concerto Grosso In F, Op. 6 No. 6 0:39
15 Frances And Edward Were Surrounded… 1:07
16 Antonio Vivaldi: "Allegro" From Concerto For 2 Cellos In G Minor 1:09
17 Finally- We've Left 1:57
18 He Began The Rehearsal 0:36
19 Antonio Vivaldi: "Allegro" From Concerto For 2 Violins In A Minor, Op. 3 No. 8 0:38
20 Antonio Vivaldi: "Largheetto E Spiritoso" From Concerto For 2 Violins In A Minor Op. 3 No. 8 2:51
21 Antonio Vivaldi: "Allegro" From Concerto For 2 Violins In A Minor, Op. 3 No. 8 0:19
22 Edward Felt The Air Outside… 2:08
23 Anonymus, Malborough S'en Va- T'en Guerre 1:30
24 Marin Marais: Overture To Alcione 0:34
25 When Frances Arrived… 3:04
26 Louis Couperin: Sarabande 1:02
27 Andre Philidor L'Aine: Entrée: Royal March 0:53
28 "The Musicians Filed Into The Room…" 0:26
29 Marin Marais: Tambourins From Alcione 0:40
30 Marin Marais: Air From Alcione 0:37
31 Marin Marais: Bourree From Alcione 0:57
32 Marin Marais: Loure From Alcione 1:16
33 Jean-Joseph Mouret: "Entrée" From Premiere Suite D'orchestre 1:06
34 Frances Was Signaling… 4:04
35 Marin Marais: Gigue From Alcione 0:42
36 The Horses Came… 0:10
37 Frances, Where Are You… 2:11
38 Henry Purcell: Trumpet Tune From King Arthur 0:33
39 When They Arrived In London… 0:58
40 Henry Purcell: "Let The Soldiers Rejoice" From Dioclesian 0:36
41 Henry Purcell: Ouverture du Roj Arthur (Lent) 0:45
42 Au Nom De La Reine, Ouvrez!… 1:22
43 Henry Purcell: Overture Du Roi Arthur (Rapide) 0:57
44 Frances, Edward, Dieu Merci… 0:38
45 Henry Purcell: Tair De Trompeit Extrait De King Arthur 0:44
46 Majestueuse Dans Sa Robe… 4:18
47 Henry Purcell: "Let The Soldiers Rejoice" From Dioclesian 1:54
48 Melodie Secrete Jouee Au Violoncelle 0:11
49 Melodie Secrete Jouee Au Violon 1:15
50 Henry Purcell: Danse Triomphante Extrait De Dido And Aenas 1:06
Tafelmusik Baroque Orchestra | Jeanne Lamon | Blair Williams
Analekta Records
Total Time 47:16, 54:49 & 59:09