Scott Ross was an American harpsichordist who was both popular and renowned for his brilliant technique and insightful interpretations. He recorded the complete works of Scarlatti, Rameau, and Couperin, three composers, along with J.S. Bach, whose music he became identified with over his brief career. Ross was also a highly respected harpsichord teacher in Canada and France.
In the early decades of the 18th century, Amsterdam was one of the most important publishing cities in the world. Vivaldi, Corelli, Albinoni and Locatelli all chose to publish in Amsterdam rather than in Venice because of the superior quality of Amsterdam publications. But pirate copies soon came on the market, for which the composer did not receive a penny. In 1719 – from the presses of the reputable publisher Roger no less – an unauthorised version of a number of Handel’s pieces for harpsichord appeared.
This 2-fer of Scott Ross' Goldberg Variations, plus selections from Frescobaldi's 1616 &1627 publications could hardly be better. The clarity of the lines in the Goldbergs alone is worth the price. The Frescobaldi selections are fresh and pleasing. As always, Mr. Ross plays in a lively, incisive, yet unaffected manner.
2019 marks the 30th anniversary of the death of the harpsichordist and organist Scott Ross, who was just 38 years old when he died. This box brings together the harpsichord recordings he made for EMI and Erato, which are complemented by a selection of radio recordings: harpsichord and organ from Radio Canada, and harpsichord music from RTS (Swizerland) and INA (France). The lasts include a duet with his former teacher Huguette Grémy-Chauliac and chamber music with Christophe Coin and his Ensemble Mosaïque.
Pièces d'orgue consistantes en deux Messes, l'une à l'usage ordinaire des Paroisses, pour les Festes solemnelles, l'autre propre pour les Convents de religieux et religieuses : la parution de ces deux messes, assortie d'un certificat par lequel Delalande attestait les avoir trouvées « fort belles et dignes d'être données en public », signe dès 1690 l'entrée de Couperin dans le cercle des musiciens ayant vocation à être reconnus.
This harpsichord recital by Scott Ross was first broadcast on the French radio France Musique in 1986. It was only released on CD in 2009 by Diapason. In this recital, Scott Ross plays the Suite in E minor and the First Concert in C minor by Jean-Philipe Rameau, the 4th suite in D major by Johann Sebastian Bach and three sonatas (K215, K492 and K27) by Domenico Scarlatti.
Ross's playing is fully worthy: he is lively, technically assured, rhythmically resilient and, above all, he conveys his enjoyment of the music, without eccentricity.– The Penguin Guide
One of the most extraordinary achievements on disc in the last quarter-century…Wherever you dip into them, the sense of stylishness, energy and, especially, Ross's affection for Scarlatti's boundless harmonic and rhythmic imagination is obvious. It's a constant, almost inexhaustible joy.
Scott Ross was the first ever keyboardist to take up this challenge: recording the complete set of Scarlatti 555 sonatas. He left us an amazing testimony of his art during the year and a half this mad undertaking lasted. This complete collection is a landmark in recording history - enjoy its quintessence in this florilegium of thirty select sonatas for harpsichord (with a second volume to follow).
Scarlatti’s well-known sonata in A Major (Kirkpatrick 208) is described as “the happiest one, with the most sunshine of all” by Scott Ross, whom it was the favorite among the legendary complete cycle he recorded in eighteen months of time in the château d’Assas. It is featured on top of this second volume of sonatas florilegium, with 29 other pieces.