Auditions for the Position of Keyboard Continuo
Les Violons du Roy and Jonathan Cohen are announcing
NATIONAL AUDITIONS
for the position of
KEYBOARD CONTINUO
(HARPSICHORD AND POSITIVE ORGAN)
Audition Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025
Place: Palais Montcalm, 995 Place D’Youville, Quebec City
Application Deadline: Friday, March 14, 2025
APPLICATION
Highly qualify candidates are invited to submit a one-page resume to:
Chantal Brunette
Orchestra Personnel Manager
Les Violons du Roy et La Chapelle de Québec
cbrunette@violonsduroy.com
995 place D’Youville, Québec City, (Quebec) G1R 3P1
For more information
Email: cbrunette@violonsduroy.com
Telephone: 514 714-8916
Website: www.violonsduroy.com
Candidates are welcome to send audio or video files at their own discretion. A PDF copy of the audition repertoire (see below) will be made available on demand.
POSITION DESCRIPTION
Under the authority of the Music Director and the Director of Artistic Administration, the keyboard continuo (harpsichord / organ) performs music parts in all repertoires and realizes the continuo in baroque and classical works
REMUNERATION
Under the current collective bargaining agreement between Les Violons du Roy and la Guilde des musiciens et musiciennes du Québec (GMMQ), the keyboard continuo will receive a salary of $1280,74 (plus a 12% premium as principal chair) per week of work, over a guaranteed annual minimum of 10 weeks. Musicians of Violons du Roy are Canadian members of the American Federation of Musicians (local 406, GMMQ). The chamber orchestra contributes to the Musicians’ Pension Fund of Canada.
INSTRUMENTS FOR AUDITION
- Positive organ: Hellmuth Wolff (2007) – five stops, variety of registrations, divided keyboard.
- Harpsichord: Yves Beaupré – two keyboards, Dulcken Flemish harpsichord replica.
(Temperament Young II for the audition)
The pitch used is 442Hz. Les Violons du Roy play on modern instruments and use baroque bows for pre-1750 repertoire, and classical (transitional) bows for works from the Classical period. Palais Montcalm features a Casavant (Opus 3896) grand concert organ. Les Violons du Roy own a fortepiano built by American Rodney J. Regier.
AUDITION REPERTOIRE
Solo repertoire / 1st round (behind screen)
On keyboard:
J.S. BACH
Excerpts from Partita No. 4 in D Major, BWV 828
- I. Overture
F. COUPERIN
Two contrasting pieces from Troisième livre
On the positive organ:
Candidate’s choice:
D. BUXTEHUDE
One piece for organ manuals from BuxWV 164 to 173 or
G. FRESCOBALDI
One toccata from the first book of Toccate e partite d'intavolaturadi cimbalo
2nd round (and following) – no screen
Continuo, instrumental music (with musicians)
H. PURCELL
Excerpts from The Fairy Queen, Z. 629
- First Music – Prelude
- First Music – Hornpipe
- Prelude in G minor
- Act III: Dance for the Fairies
- Act III: Air: If love's a sweet passion
A VIVALDI
Concerto for Violin in F Major, Op. 8 No. 3, RV 293 “Autumn”
- II. Adagio molto
Continuo, vocal music (with voice)
On the organ
G. CARISSIMI
Jephte
- No. 10 – Filia: Aria Incipite in tympani et psallite in cymbalis
- No. 23 – Filia: excerpt Ecce moriar virgo (bar 15) to Chorus Plorate filii Israel
J.S. BACH
Cantata Jauchzet Gott in allen Landen, BWV 51
- II. Recitative: Wir beten zu dem Tempel an
- III. Aria: Höchster, mache deine Güte
On the harpsichord
G.F. HANDEL
Cantata Mi palpita il cor, HWV 132c
- Recitative: Mi palpita il cor
- Aria: Ho tanti affanni in petto
L.-N. CLÉRAMBAULT
Léandre et Héro, C.8
- II. Air gai et gracieux : Non, c’est trop soutenir les tourments
- III. Tempeste, Allegro : Tous les vents déchaînés se déclarent la guerre