Jean-Pierre Rampal was one of history's greatest flute players, and among the most recorded classical artists of all time. His father was the first flutist of the Marseilles Symphony Orchestra and was professor of flute at the Conservatory there. Although his father taught him to play the flute, he did not recommend a musical career for Jean-Pierre, who instead entered medical studies. He was in the third year of medical study when, in 1943, German occupying forces drafted Rampal for service in the military. He learned that he was, in fact, to be sent to Germany as forced labor. So he went absent without leave and joined the underground, traveling to Paris and assuming a new identity. In Paris, he decided to attend the National Conservatory as a flute student. Five months later he graduated with first prize. Paris was liberated a few months later, and Rampal was appointed first flutist with the Paris Vichy Opera.

CD 1
Jean-Sebastien Bach 1685-1750
Sonate pour flute & clavecin en si mineur, BWV 1030
Sonate pour flute & clavecin en bemol majeur, BWV 1031
Sonate pour flute & clavecin en la majeur, BWV 1032
Sonate pour flute & continuo en ut majeur, BWV 1033
Sonate pour flute & continuo en mi mineur, BWV 1034
Sonate por flute et continuo en mi majeur, BWV 1035
Sonate pour flute seule en la mienur, BWV 1013

CD 2
Georg Philip Telemann 1681-1767
Concerto en sol majeur pour flute & cordes
Suite en la mineur pour flute & cordes
3 Sonates pour flute & clavecin

CD 3
Joseph Haydn 1732-1809
Sonate pour flute en ut majeur, d'apres Hob.III.72

Ludwig van Beethoven 1770-1827
Serenade pour flute, violon & alto, op.25

Franz Schubert 1797-1828
Introduction & variations sur le theme "Ihr Blumlein alle"

Robert Schumann 1810-1856
3 Romances

CD 4
Claude Debussy 1862-1918
Sonate pour flute, alto & harpe

Maurice Ravel 1875-1937
Introduction & allegro pour harpe, flute, clarinette & quatuor a cordes

Albert Roussel 1869-1937
Serenade pour flute, harpe & trio a cordes

Arthur Honegger 1892-1955
Concertino da camera pour flute, cor anglais & orchestre a cordes

3 Pieces de la Collection Fernand Oubradous
Arthur Honegger 1892-1955 - Romance
Amable Massis 1893-1980 - Pastorale
Henri Gagnebin 1886-1977 - Marche des gais lurons