Christophe Rousset
AP006 - 2CD - 107' - May 21, 2010
Christophe Rousset is one of the most brilliant harpsichordists of his generation, whose recordings have been hailed by the international press, including those of François Couperin for harmonia mundi. This is the first time he has recorded works by Louis Couperin. He preferred not to record the complete works, as he explains: "For this recording, we have selected the very finest pieces by Louis Couperin. We ruled out the idea of performing all the pieces - that has already been done by some of our eminent colleagues. We did not want to have three Courantes in succession or a Chaconne and a Passacaille following each other in the same key, nor for the suites to be unnecessarily long, and lacking the coherence and pertinence that the form requires. Although the material available would have enabled us to put together several suites, we decided to present just one suite in F or in A. And generally we have followed the order of Parville rather than of Bauyn. Thus, I believe, the listener will be able to apprehend Louis Couperin at his most expressive, in the richness of his harmonies and rhetoric, and in the subtle contrasts that make him one of the most amazing precursors not only of his nephew François Couperin, le grand, but also of Jean-Baptiste Lully."
LOUIS COUPERIN
CD 1
Suite en fa majeur
1. I. Prélude
2. II. Allemande grave
3. III. Courante
4. IV. Sarabande
5. V. Branle de Basque
6. VI. Gigue
7. VII. Gaillarde
8. VIII. Chaconne
9. IX. Tombeau de M. de Blancrocher
Suite en sol mineur
10. I. Prélude
11. II. Allemande
12. III. Courante
13. IV. Sarabande
14. V. Passacaille
Suite en do majeur
15. I. Prélude
16. II. Allemande
17. III. Courante
18. IV. Sarabande
19. V. Passacaille
CD 2
Suite en do mineur
1. I. Prélude
2. II. Allemande la précieuse
3. III. Courante
4. IV. Sarabande
5. V. Gigue
6. VI. Chaconne la Bergeronnette
Suite en ré mineur
7. I. Prélude
8. II. Allemande
9. III. Courante
10. IV. Sarabande
11. V. Canaries
12. VI. Volte
13. VII. La Pastourelle
14. VIII. Chaconne
Suite en la mineur
15. I. Prélude à l’imitation de Mr Froberger
16. II. Allemande l’amiable
17. III. Courante La Mignone
18. IV. Sarabande
19. V. La Piémontoise
20. Pavanne
See also
