Gilels plays Loeillet / Godowsky Gigue

Jean-Baptiste Loeillet of London (1680 - 1730) Belgian born baroque composer as well as a performer on the recorder, flute, oboe, and harpsichord. He is called the London Loeillet to distinguish him from another famous composer, his first cousin Jean Baptiste Loeillet of Ghent. In 1705, after his studies in Ghent and Paris, he moved to London. He was successful as a player and teacher of the harpsichord. He played woodwind in the Queen's Theatre and held musical gatherings every week at his home. His performances were well received in London; and he was responsible for introducing Corelli's 12 Concerti Grossi to Londoners. Godowsky's piano suite Renaissance features an arrangement of one of the composer's Gigues. ~ Emil Grigoryevich Gilels (1916 - 1985) Soviet pianist, born in Odessa to a Jewish family. He began studying the piano at the age of five under Yakov Tkach. Gilels made his public debut at the age of 12 in 1929 and en