Couperin, L.: Harpsichord Suites / Tombeau De M. De Blancocher

Laurence

Regular: £11.49

Sale: £11.49
Regular

Out of Stock

Unit Price: per

Cat No: 8550922

Release Date: 12 January 1999

Label: Naxos - Nxc / Naxos Classics

Packaging Type: Jewel Case

No of Units: 1

Barcode: 730099592222

Genres: Classical

Composer/Series: COUPERIN, L.

Description
Louis Couperin (c. 1626 - 1661) Works for Harpsichord Little is known of Louis Couperin's first twenty-five years. Even the exact date of his birth is unclear, as the registers for Chaumes, the Couperin family home, are missing. Although Chaumes was in the very provincial region of Brie in North East France, there was at that time a large community of wealthy aristocrats who patronised the arts and no doubt Louis Couperin and his two brothers benefited from the talents of the court musicians, as well as the lessons they received from their musical father. Other indications of Louis Couperin's burgeoning talent are anecdotal, though charming. The story goes that, together with his brothers, he marched the fifteen kilometres to the chateau of Monsieur Chambonnières and there performed one of his own compositions. The grand old harpsichordist was so impressed that he persuaded Louis Couperin's father that the young composer should accompany him to Paris and be presented at the Royal Court. This he duly did and the young man was received there to great acclaim. Louis Couperin became a full-time musician at court and as a result travelled widely outside Paris. He refused the post of resident harpsichordist, 'joueur d'espinette', in deference to his mentor Chambonnieres, who still held the position. Instead, he took a post as a treble-viol player, showing what a remarkably versatile musician he was. In fact Chambonnières soon retired, as he was unable to play the ever more complicated figured bass (improvised harmonic patterns above a given bass line) so Louis Couperin became 'joueur d'espinette' in all but name. More recently Louis Couperin has been overshadowed by his nephew, François le Grand. Though François Couperin was indeed to bring a new elegance, he owed so much to his uncle, who had revived old genres and breathed new life into French harpsichord music. One of the principle reasons for Louis Couperin's neglect is the loss of a large proportion of his music. What we have consists mostly of harpsichord music, though there is also music for organ, viol consort and shawm choir. 215 pieces survive and these are found in two manuscripts, neither in Louis Couperin's own hand. The 'Parville' manuscript mixes movements by Louis Couperin with music of other composers. In the more comprehensive 'Bayn' manuscript the Préludes appear together at the beginning, followed by groups of pieces based around the thirteen respective tonal centres represented. In neither manuscript are these Suites arranged in the order in which they would have been performed. The Préludes non mésurés represent Louis Couperin's most profound and influential addition to the repertoire. They replaced the hitherto improvised preludes that players were expected to perform before a suite. Although these new preludes are notated, they at first appear to be a confusing yet beautiful succession of random notes. Further investigation
Tracklisting