Violaine Cochard is also a recognized pedagogue and one of Europe's most sought-after repetiteurs, focusing on vocal art.
Performer Biography
Violaine Cochard, the harpsichordist on this album, won first prize at the prestigious International Harpsichord Competition in Montreal in 1999.
Instruments
The harpsichord used for this recording is a Christian Kroll instrument from 1776, which was found entirely in its original state, including remains of strings and plectra.
Compositional Technique
A key characteristic of the French harpsichord school is the 'style brisé' (broken style), where chords are arpeggiated to imitate the sound of a lute, creating a specific harmonic ambiguity.
Instruments
The Christian Kroll harpsichord's ornately sculpted stand led to its maker being sued by the guild of carpenters and cabinet-makers in 1774 for sculpting his own legs.
Historical Context
Jacques Duphly, a harpsichord master, died on July 15, 1789, the day after the storming of the Bastille, an event that some see as symbolic of the end of the harpsichord's era in France.
Composer's Artistic Vision
The album's program was conceived as a dialogue between Jacques Duphly, who dedicated his life solely to the harpsichord, and contemporaries like Royer (an opera composer), Forqueray (a violist), and Dandrieu and Balbastre (organists).
