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J. B. Loeillet’s Six Suites for the Harpsichord is part of a larger project that aims to explore the distinctive elements of a nation’s music and their occurrence in the literature composed for keyboard instruments in the 17th and 18th centuries. It attempts also to further consider the validity of the term ‘national schools’ and to isolate elements characteristic of indigenous cultures.

The inspiration for such explorations came from work on the recording of the album ‘Basque keyboard music of the 18th century based on the collection of Padre Donostia ‘Musica de Tecla en el País Vasco Siglo XVIII’. Of particular interest in this research aspect is the work of composers from the broadly Flemish music circle in the broadest sense, active in the international sphere due to their their various origins, place of residence and numerous journeys.

Such composers included Jean Baptiste Loeillet, born in Ghent and working for most of his life in London, fascinated by the stylistic diversity and the most inspiring influences of the multinationals. Loeillet’s suites are very interesting comparative pieces – they are mature, expansive and very interesting in terms of texture, they also testify conclusively to the composer’s considerable melodic ingenuity of the composer.

In addition to J.B. Loeillet’s Six Suites, the project has produced a recording of Pieter Bustijn – IX Suites and a recording of the harpsichord works of J.H. Fiocco is planned.

Maria Banaszkiewicz-Bryla, Harpsichord