MUSIC FOR THE COUNTESS OF SANDWICH
Ruth Wilkinson (recorder) and Linda Kent (harpsichord)

Rare early baroque works by Charles Dieupart (c1667-c1740), these 'Six Suittes de Clavecin' were stated on the first edition to be dedicated to 'Madame la Comtesse de Sandwich'. Dieupart was a French violinist, harpsichordist who spent the last 40 years of his life in England. Though known as Charles to his English contemporaries, his original name may have been François. It is possible that the dedicatee of these pieces was his harpsichord pupil for a time. The actual instrument for which the solo part is written is the 'flûte de voix' (voice flute) which is a recorder in D (a very rare instrument, set a third below the treble/alto recorder.