La Sultane, another sonata on this album, is thought to be a 'tombeau' (musical funeral oration) for the Duchesse de Bourgogne, who was famous for appearing at a ball dressed as an oriental potentate.
Performer Biography
London Baroque, the ensemble on this recording, was formed in 1978 and is recognized globally as a leading exponent of baroque chamber music, performing around 50 concerts annually.
Composition History
The Apothéoses are a diplomatic attempt by Couperin to reconcile the ongoing controversy between supporters of Lully's old French style and the new Italian sonata.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Couperin believed that combining French and Italian musical styles would achieve musical perfection, a concept explored in his Apothéoses.
Instruments
The harpsichord used in this recording is a Flemish harpsichord, built by Andrew Garlick in 1998, modeled after a Ruckers instrument from 1624.
Composition History
La Steinkerque, a sonata on this album, was likely a witty flattery of Louis XIV's court, referencing the Maréchal de Luxembourg's victory at the Battle of Steinkerque in 1692.
Composer Biography
François Couperin, the composer, grew up in Paris, where his father Charles was an organist, and later became 'Organiste du Roi' at Versailles.
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