The Salish Sea Early Music Festival presents a taste of the musical atmospheres generated by the celebrated musicians of the court of Louis XIV in this program entitled “Versailles” with baroque flutist Jeffrey Cohan, viola da gamba player Joanna Blendulf and baroque guitarist and theorbo player John Lenti on Thursday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at Brickworks.

Begun in 1623 as a hunting lodge by Louis XIII, Versailles became the center of musical activity and political power in France when Louis XIV moved there in 1682. Here woodwind instruments were to evolve, largely due to the efforts of members of the Philidor family, to suit the intimate gestures and elaborate ornamentational detail that yielded the deeply moving luscious instrumental textures to which Louis XIV was accustomed. Composers to be represented include the prolific composer and performer Élisabeth Jacquet de La Guerre, who was taken into service at the royal court at a very young age, members of the wind instrument playing Philidor family, the highly esteemed court flutist Jacques Hotteterre, Louis XIV’s guitar teacher Robert de Visée, and harpsichordist François Couperin, who was employed at the royal court from 1693. Jeffrey Cohan will play an exact replica, more than two tones below modern pitch, of an ebony one-keyed flute with massive ivory rings by Jacques Hotteterre.

Suggested donation will be $15, $20 or $25 (a free will offering). Those 18 and under are free. Please see www.salishseafestival.org/sanjuan.