Virtuoso gambist Paolo Pandolfo brings rare vitality and historical insight to Mr. De Machy’s Pièces de Violle, the landmark 1685 publication that helped define the French viola da gamba tradition. Renowned for his expressive, research-led approach and acclaimed recordings of Sainte-Colombe, Abel, and the Bach Cello Suites (in his own gamba transcription), Pandolfo reveals the repertoire’s dual soul: a richly chordal, harmonically resonant instrument matched with lyrical, dance-shaped lines. This performance emphasizes the music’s courtly dances and rhythmic elegance, echoing 17th-century France’s fascination with movement across nobility and bourgeois salons alike. An accompanying essay deepens the context around De Machy’s spirited debate with Jean Rousseau and traces the influence on Marin Marais and Antoine Forqueray. The result is a refined, engaging recital that will appeal to early-music listeners, baroque enthusiasts, and anyone captivated by the intimate voice of the viola da gamba.

• Artist: Paolo Pandolfo
• Format: Audio CD
• Release Type: Album
• Genre: Classical

• Edition: Standard
• Includes essay by Paolo Pandolfo exploring De Machy’s performance practice, the Rousseau querelle, and the dance character of the suites.

• Media: Jewel Case CD
• Bonus: Liner essay by Paolo Pandolfo

Paolo Pandolfo is an Italian viola da gamba master known for combining rigorous historical practice with vivid, communicative performance. A former member of the ensemble Hespèrion XX with Jordi Savall, he has championed the gamba’s solo and chamber repertories from the French Baroque to contemporary works, often creating transcriptions that highlight the instrument’s harmonic depth and lyrical nuance. His discography—spanning Sainte-Colombe, Marais, Abel, and highly praised Bach transcriptions—has been celebrated for imaginative phrasing, refined tone, and scholarly insight that brings early music to modern audiences with immediacy and warmth.