Eugène Godecharle: Sei quartetti per harpa, violino, viola e basso, Op. IV

Eugene Godecharle was director of music at the church of Saint-Gery in Brussels before his appointment as first violinist in the court orchestra. He was not only an outstanding violinist and violist, but seems also to have mastered the pedal harp; he subsequently made brilliant use of the tonal and technical possibilities that the newly invented pedal mechanism had enabled. His Sei Quartetti Op. IV are notable for their musical and tonal diversity as well as for the particular textures that Godecharle employed in their composition. In these harp quartets, recorded here for the first time, Societe Lunaire explores a particularly fascinating sound world; their energetic allegros as well as melancholy and galant movements enrich the chamber music repertoire of the second half of the 18th century in a most elegant and charming manner.

• Godecharle: Quartet for Harp, Violin, Viola & Bass No. 1 in A major
• Godecharle: Quartet for Harp, Violin, Viola & Bass No. 2 in F major
• Godecharle: Quartet for Harp, Violin, Viola & Bass No. 3 in B flat major
• Godecharle: Quartet for Harp, Violin, Viola & Bass No. 4 in C major
• Godecharle: Quartet for Harp, Violin, Viola & Bass No. 5 in G major
• Godecharle: Quartet for Harp, Violin, Viola & Bass No. 6 in E flat major