This short ballet was composed for us by Stephen Yates and appears on our second CD, "Love Reconciled".  

Love Reconciled or The Rewards of Evil by Stephen Yates

Paul Cutlan composed Times Past for the Seaven Teares for viol consort, commissioned by Jennifer Eriksson. He also plays the bass clarinet on this live recording.

Times Past by Paul Cutlan

A beautiful set of variations performed on the viola da gamba by Jennifer Eriksson and The Marais Project.

Italian Ground (anonymous)

Michel Pignolet de Monteclair: "Le Retour De La Paix" - Récitat

From the Monteclair cantata, "Le Retour de la Paix".  Recorded on the first Marais Project CD, Viol Dreaming.

Michel Pignolet de Monteclair: "de trompetes et de Musetes"

Mara Kiek's breathtaking cover of one of the oldest known English folk songs, "Bird on a briar". With Llew Kiek, gittern, and Jenny Eriksson, viola da gamba.  Mara also plays the frame drum.

12 Bryd One Brere

A new reading of the beautiful Steve Hunter ballad, "Three Rivers".  Matt McMahon piano and arranger, Jenny Eriksson electric viola da gamba, Paul Cutlan, sax and Siebe Pogson, bass.

"Three Rivers" by Steve Hunter (arr. Matt McMahon)

Zawi (ode to Joe Zawinul) was composed by guitarist Guy Strazz and arranged by Matt McMahon for electric gamba ensemble.  Live recording with Paul Cutlan, sax, Matt McMahon, piano, Jenny Eriksson, electric gamba, and Siebe Pogson, electric bass.

"Zawi" by Guy Strazz (arr. Matt McMahon)

Matt McMahon talks about his compositional approach:- "Writing for the electric viola da gamba opens possibilities for the use of piano rather than theorbo (bass lute) or harpsichord because of the gamba’s extra projection. This allows for an approach that takes the gamba out of its traditional setting. I’ve tried to compose music that makes use of the natural qualities of the instrument but with a different
sound world as its frame."  Live recording by Jenny Eriksson, electric viola da gamba, Matt McMahon, piano, Siebe Pogson, electric bass

"For Thomas Wyatt" - by Matt McMahon

This beautiful Swedish fiddle tune, as arranged by Tommie Andersson, appeared first on our CD, "Lady Sings the Viol".

Låt Till Far (Song to father) - The Marais Project

Gammal fäbodpsalm (Old pastoral hymn) is one of the most haunting and melancholy tunes from the Swedish region of Dalarna (Dalecarlia). It was originally known as Psalm from Älvdalsåsen and was sung by a wandering blind musician called Grund Olof Ersson (‘Blind-Olof’) (1807–1881). He, in turn, had learnt it from the fiddler Bälter Erik Olsson (b. 1793), whose daughter he had married. Another fiddler from Älvdalsåsen, Kettis Lars Matsson (d. 1940), learnt the tune from Olof and it was subsequently written down and published in 1919. The fäbodpsalms were traditionally sung by women as they tended the cattle up in the mountains at their summer pasture. It made a deep impression on the composer Oskar Lindberg (1887–1955) when he heard it sung at a service in his hometown Gagnef. He later composed a piece for organ based on the melody for a live radio broadcast in 1936. Gammal fäbodpsalm från Dalarna has become his most loved and performed composition.  This arrangement was made by Marais Project lutenist, Tommie Andersson.

Gammal fäbodpsalm (Old pastoral hymn) - The Marais Project

The Prelude from Caix d'Hervelois Suite in D minor from The Marais Project's "Spinning Forth" CD

Prelude - Louis de Caix d'Hervelois

Caix d'Hervelois' ancient prelude - originally for viola da gamba - remixed by Marcus Talbot AKA Marcooll

Winthorpe - remix of Caix d'Hervelois' prelude in D minor

I arranged Marais' "Le Tombeau Pour Marais Le Cadet" as a memorial to John Dowland. We first played it at a concert celebrating Dowland's 450th birthday back in 2013. The track appears on our CD titled "Spinning Forth".

It is a very sad piece but I hope you like it.

Jenny Eriksson and Catherine Upex - viola da gamba
Tommie Andersson - theorbo

Marin Marais - Le Tombeau Pour Marais Le Cadet (arrJennifer Eriksson)

The first of 4 movements from Paul Cutlan's "Spinning Forth" for viola da gamba and harpsichord which was recorded on our CD of the same name. The recording was "CD of the week" in January 2018 on ABC Classic FM, Australia's national fine music radio station. Spinning Forth was commissioned by Jennifer Eriksson.

Jennifer Eriksson - viola da gamba
Ray Harvey - harpsichord

Spinning Forth - I Prelude

From our CD, "Spinning Forth".

"The original tune of The Cheshire Rounds, in (3/2 time), was believed to have been played at the first dance held in the colony of New South Wales at Government House. The Cheshire Rounds had been published consistently in dance manuals since Playford’s The Dancing Master in 1701 through to Preston’s Twenty Four Country Dances for the year 1801.  By the time it was recorded in the Sydney Gazette of 1803, it had acquired the status of a favourite folk dance and one befitting a wedding celebration. The dance was also published in Thompson’s Complete Collection of 200 Favourite Country Dances, Vol. II. 1765. Our setting uses a Bulgarian Kopanitsa rhythm (11/8) 2+2+3+2+2.  The Kopanitsa is from a circle dance tradition and involves running and skipping steps." (Llew Kiek)

Matthew Bruce — baroque violin
Mikaela Oberg — baroque flute
Tommie Andersson — classical era guitar 
Jennifer Eriksson — viola da gamba

The Cheshire Rounds (Llew & Mara Kiek)

The bushranging ballad Streets of Forbes records the slaying of the famed bushranger Ben Hall by police troopers in 1865. It is generally believed to have been devised by John McGuire, Ben's brother-in-law and neighbour, after he saw Ben's body being paraded through the New South Wales’ town of Forbes. The song is one of the best-known in the Australian folk repertoire. It has been recorded by many folk and popular artists and groups. Mara!,  - the ensemble Mara Kike and I co-founded  - included it on their first album “Images” (1984),  and it has remained a favourite of ours since.  When I was working with The Marais Project on a previous album Lady Sings the Viol, Mara Kiek and I noticed melodic similarities between the Swedish fiddle tune, Lat Til Far, and Streets of Forbes.  From that observation the idea for this setting was born. (Llew Kiek)

Koen van Stade — tenor
Matthew Bruce — baroque violin
Mikaela Oberg — baroque flute
Tommie Andersson — classical era guitar 
Jennifer Eriksson — viola da gamba

Streets Of Forbes (arr Llew & Mara Kiek)

A lovely little "bagatelle" written by the masterful D'Hervelois. From our "Spinning Forth" CD released in 2018.

Jenny Eriksson and Catherine Upex, viola da gambas; Tommie Andersson, theorbo

Caix D'Hervelois - Pieces De Viole - La Bagatelle

Emily-Rose Šárkova's arrangement Marin Marais' "La Biscayenne" from Suite in E minor Pièces de viole, 4è livre, Paris 1717. From our 2019 20th Anniversary CD, "The Garden Party", available from MOVE Records.

- Jenny Eriksson - viola da gamba
- Emily-Rose Šárkova - piano accordion

La Biscayenne - Marin Marais

A beautiful French motet by Boutellier for soprano and two viola da gamba originally released on our "Love Reconciled" CD. Sung by Belinda Montgomery with Danny Yeadon and jenny Eriksson, viola da gamba.

Produced by Llew Kiek; Sound Engineer Chris Doherty

O Salutaris Hostia

'The Garden Party' was inspired by Feste Champêtre from Marin Marais’ Suitte d'un Goût Étranger.
 
This track was a new release and world premiere recording that appeared on our 20th Anniversary CD of the same name, 'The Garden Party.' Released on the MOVE label.

Susie Bishop – violin
Emily-Rose Šárkova – piano accordion
Jennifer Eriksson – viola da gamba
Tommie Andersson – baroque guitar
Elsen Price – double bass

Produced by Llew Kiek
Sound engineer Chris Doherty

The Garden Party

The Marais Project celebrates the music of the great viola da gambist and composer, Marin Marais, and other ancient and modern music for the viola da gamba.

I founded the group in 2000. We have released 7 CDs and present an annual concert series.

The Marais Project

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