The works of French Baroque viola da gamba virtuoso/composer Marin Marais are among the most exalted and refined examples both of French style and of the technical and expressive possibilities of the gamba (or bass viol, as it was known in France). To hear these works in their original settings, you have to hear one of Jordi Savall’s several fine recordings, or a disc by newcomer Juan Manuel Quintana. To hear some of these same works, originally for gamba and continuo, transcribed for a single guitar is to hear them as completely different pieces, and in that context, Turkish guitarist Cem Duruöz, who also made the transcriptions, delivers performances that not only hold up on their own, but also testify to the music’s versatility and adaptability. The playing is artful and widely expressive–especially notable is the carefully nuanced Tombeau pour Mr. de Ste. Colombe–and Duruöz’s articulation is invariably clean and clear, his ornamentation well-chosen and tasteful. Most unusual are the performances of two works accompanied by spoken text (in French). Le Tableau de l’Operation de la Taille and Les Relevailles are descriptions of, believe it or not, a gall bladder operation and the patient’s subsequent expression of relief at having survived and recovered. These are not musically among Marais’ best pieces, but they are interesting for their “programmatic” features. The sound is clear and natural and warmly resonant. In all, this is a technically competent and musically worthy project that will appeal both to guitarists and to fans of the French Baroque.
