Jean-Marie Leclair was the most eminent representative of the 18th-century French violin school. This new publication in score by Editions du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles offers all violinists, as well as ensembles, whether specialists in this repertoire or not, the opportunity to play his concertos, veritable manifestos of instrumental virtuosity in the service of French musical taste.

Jean-Marie Leclair was born in Lyon in 1697. From 1722, he made several trips to Piedmont, where he studied under Somis, who passed on to him the teaching of Corelli. This meeting was decisive for the composer, and led him to embark on a career as a soloist. His virtuosity, always at the service of music, completely revolutionised violin playing in France, creating a veritable school. From 1728, when he began his career at the Concert Spirituel in Paris, until his assassination in 1764, he never stopped writing and performing, whether just for his instrument or in larger-scale works.

This concerto for violin and orchestra Op. VII No. 5, probably written in 1737, is in A minor. In three movements (Allegro, Largo, Allegro assai), it lasts about a quarter of an hour. In the manner of a concerto grosso, a "Violino concertino" alternates between leading the orchestra and important solo passages. The orchestra consists of two violin parts, viola, bass and basso continuo.