Couperin's compositional style in these sonatas alternates between Italian elements, such as fugato sections and gigues in the style of Corelli, and French elements like binary or rondeau structures and simple airs.
Cultural Impact
J.S. Bach chose to transcribe the fourth movement of Couperin's 'La Convalescente' sonata, an 'Air gracieusement', for organ in his Aria in F major BWV 587.
Historical Context
The birth of the French sonata was almost clandestine, as the Italian style was initially considered unsuitable for French taste, and the violin was seen as an instrument only fit for dance music.
Instruments
Stéphanie de Failly, one of the violinists, plays a Giovanni Paolo Maggini violin from 1620 that previously belonged to renowned Belgian violinist Edith Volckaert.
Recording & Production
The recording was made in May 2012 at the Abbaye aux Dames in Saintes, which provided the church and a harpsichord for the ensemble Les Dominos.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Couperin, like in his harpsichord music, showed a preference for giving titles to his sonatas, which refer to different levels of interpretation, from imitative writing to homage.
Composition History
François Couperin, the composer, initially used a "white lie" to introduce his first sonata in France, pretending it was by a new Italian composer to bypass French prejudice against foreign styles.
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