BUSTIJN

Suittes pour le Clavessin

Alessandro Simonetto – harpsichord

SUITTE I in D minor

1 I. Preludio 0’49

2 II. Allemanda 2’00

3 III. Corrente 1’16

4 IV. Sarabanda 1’27

5 V. Giga 1’08

SUITTE II in D

6 I. Preludio 0’34

7 II. Allemanda 2’46

8 III. Corrente 1’07

9 IV. Sarabanda 2’59

10 V. Giga 1’37

SUITTE III in G

11 I. Preludio 0’46

12 II. Allemanda 3’00

13 III. Corrente 1’28

14 IV. Sarabanda 1’31

15 V. Giga 1’38

SUITTE IV in C

16 I. Preludio 0’33

17 II. Allemanda 1’49

18 III. Corrente 1’05

19 IV. Sarabanda 2’01

20 V. Giga 1’34

21 VI. Variatio 1’46

SUITTE V in G minor

22 I. Preludio 1’38

23 II. Allemanda 2’11

24 III. Corrente 1’16

25 IV. Sarabanda 2’07

26 V. Tempo di Gavotta 0’53

SUITTE VI in A minor

27 I. Preludio 0’51

28 II. Allemanda 2’32

29 III. Corrente 1’30

30 IV. Sarabanda 1’56

31 V. Aria 1’14

32 VI. Giga 0’31

33 VII. Variatio 0’43

SUITTE VII in E

34 I. Preludio 0’55

35 II. Allemanda 2’22

36 III. Corrente 1’07

37 IV. Sarabanda 1’43

38 V. Giga 1’24

SUITTE VIII in A

39 I. Preludio 1’16

40 II. Allemanda 2’11

41 III. Corrente 1’18

42 IV. Sarabanda 2’00

43 V. Giga 1’35

44 VI. Aria 0’57

45 VII. Variatio Prima 0’57

46 VIII. Variatio Seconda 1’09

SUITTE IX in D

47 I. Intrada 1’26

48 II. Corrente 1’12

49 III. Sarabanda 3’05

50 IV. Aria 1’16

51 V. Tempo di Borée 0’53

52 VI. Gavotta 0’37

53 VII. Menuet 1’00

Pierre Bustijn was a Flemish composer, harpsichordist, organist and carillon-player, who lived from 1649-1729 Very little is known about his life, because of the destruction of the Middelburg Archive during World War II.

Only one opus survived, his 9 Cembalo Suites, which were published in Amsterdam in 1712, by the famous publisher Estienne Roger So these are the “Complete Works” of Pierre Bustijn on CD, another “Integrale” by Brilliant Classics!

Pierre or Pieter Bustijn (1649-1729) was from the Low Countries: his family are reputed to have variously French, Belgian and Dutch origins (in the sense that we now understand those borders).We know next to nothing of the man himself, but his nine Suites for harpsichord evidently were held in high esteem in their day, being worthy of publication and wide dissemination. We can hear why: according to the eminent scholar Albert Clement, ‘The Suites offer us a surprising glimpse into Dutch musical life during the Baroque period and they are of great importance as far as the history of keyboard music in the Netherlands is concerned.’ They betray a certain Bachian influence (and why not?) in both their melodies and form, and indeed the influence is most positively appreciated in their rhythmic verve and stylish construction.

Alessandro Simonetto (B.1974) is a fine young Italian harpsichordist, as well as an enterprising digital musicpublisher:

The founder of both OnClassical.com and kunstderfuge.com, both vast online resources of music. About Simonetto: "... a pianist with immense talent and will most surely make his mark in the musical

profession" (Eric James, music associate of the late Sir Charles Chaplin)

Brilliant Classics 94187