In his Pièces de clavecin, Armand-Louis Couperin aimed to vary styles, be original, and portray different genres, hoping for a favorable public response.
Instruments
The harpsichord was extended in 1784 by Parisian maker Jacques Joachim Swanen, who added knee-levers to allow for dynamic changes, competing with the emerging fortepiano.
Composer Biography
Armand-Louis Couperin, a talented organist and harpsichordist, was the great-nephew of the celebrated François Couperin, 'le Grand'.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording, though marked as a 1590 Hans Ruckers instrument, was actually built in the first half of the 18th century by Parisian maker Jean-Claude Goujon.
Composition History
Armand-Louis Couperin dedicated his Pièces de clavecin to Madame Victoire de France, the fifth daughter of King Louis XV, who was also a talented harpsichordist and musician.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in the amphitheater of the Cité de la musique-Philharmonie de Paris, using a harpsichord from the Musée de la musique's collection.
Composer Biography
Armand-Louis Couperin died accidentally in 1789 after being kicked by a runaway horse on his way back from Vespers at the Sainte-Chapelle.
