Marin Marais

Marais stood at the forefront of bass viol performance in France throughout his era. His entire existence unfolded in Paris, where he dedicated many years to serving the royal court. After training under both Sainte-Colombe and Lully, he produced four operas, foremost among them "Alcione." That work stands out for the tempest scene occupying one of its acts and served as a stylistic bridge linking the stage music of Lully with that of Campra. His publications of pieces for one to three viols represent his chief legacy, encompassing more than 550 individual compositions that range from dances to character pieces. The latter group ranks among his strongest achievements because of their elegance, gallantry, rich harmonic textures, and intricate ornamentation. Marais issued the volume "Pieces de trio pour les flutes, violon, et desses de viole" in 1692, marking the initial appearance of trio sonatas on French soil.