CUADRATURA
For five musicians: traverso, violin, viola da gamba, harpsichord, theorbo and baroque guitarre.
In poetry, the term "cuadratura" evokes the idea of balance, stability, and perfection, characteristics associated with the symmetry and harmony of the number 4. Additionally, it symbolizes completeness and fullness, as the number 4 is often seen as a symbol of wholeness in many cultures and traditions.
The French violinist and composer Jean-Baptiste Quentin le Jeune (the younger) was active in Paris between the years 1718 and 1750, known especially for his contribution to the development of chamber music. He was a member of the Académie Royale de Musique, the later Opera, where he played the violin, and from 1738, he played the viola in the large choir. He was highly esteemed among his contemporaries. The additional surname "le Jeune" (the Young) refers to having an older brother named Bertin, who was also a violinist at the Paris Opera.
Although little is known about Jean-Baptiste Quentin's life, we are well aware of his extensive output of chamber music. He composed 36 sonatas for violin, 80 trios, and seven quartets. Quentin was one of the first composers in France to write quartets, a genre that was on the rise in Europe at that time. His quartets are characterized by their elegance and refinement, displaying a skillful combination of charming melodies and solid formal structures. In this program, we wanted to showcase these quartets due to their recent recovery and publication, aiming to promote his music in concerts and future recordings. Quentin experimented with various forms and styles in his quartets, showing influences from Italian and German music of the time, as well as distinctive elements of French music. The original impressions containing quartets were published between 1737 and 1748.