Cinquieme Livre de Pieces de Viole

Marin Marais published his last collection in 1725, eight years after the appearance of his Quatrième Livre de Pièces de Viole. He was no longer playing in the Chambre du Roi by that time and had moved to a house in the Faubourg Saint-Marceau where he cultivated plants and flowers in his garden. He continued, however, to give lessons to people who wanted to improve their viol playing. The Cinquième Livre de Pièces de Viole reflects this image of a peaceful life; today we regard it as the final testament of a musician who was looking back upon his past years as their undisputed master - and which he remains today.