6 Harpsichord Suites - CD

Richard Jones (1680?-1744) was an English composer and violinist of whom lamentably little is known. Jones' first publication appeared in 1720, a solo cantata While in a Lovely Rurall Seat. In 1732 he was associated with the Drury Lane Theater Orchestra in London, succeeding Stefano Carbonelli as the orchestra's leader. He was a stage composer at a time when Georg Frideric Handel's music dominated the British stage, and much of his music, or what of it survives, shows clear Italianate influence. Like the details of his life, little of Jones's music survives. His pantomime stage works and ballad operas are all lost. His keyboard and violin suites however did survive and are noted for their wide, angular leaps and unconventional structure. The 6 Harpsichord Suites (or Lessons), possible inspired by the great keyboard suites by Handel, are of a very high quality, beautifully written, original and enormously appealing, with inventive handling of sweeping melodies, unexpected cadenzas and frequent changes of direction. They are also rich in harmony, with some bold inventions and plenty of vigorous rhythm that can be quite challenging from a technical point of view. In other words, they are compositions that on occasion rival those of Purcell and Handel. Francesco Fornasaro followed master classes with Luigi Ferdinando Tagliavini, Giulia Nuti, Bob van Asperen, Pierre Hantaï, Christophe Rousset, Skip Sempé, Menno van Delft, Francesco, while he further improved his skills in baroque ensemble music and baroque instrumental techniques and practices at the Maggio Fiorentino Formazione under the guidance of Alan Curtis, Federico Maria Sardelli and Federico Bardazzi.