F. Couperin: Leçons de Ténèbres

Featuring

David Bates
Lucy Crowe
Elizabeth Watts
La Nuova Musica
François Couperin
Sébastien de Brossard

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Recording & Production

This recording was made in October 2015 at St Augustine's Church, Kilburn, London, UK.

Historical Context

The text for Couperin's 'Leçons de Ténèbres' is taken from the biblical book of Lamentations, where the prophet Jeremiah laments the destruction of Jerusalem in 586 BC.

Composition History

Couperin's 'Leçons de Ténèbres' were composed between 1713 and 1717 for the nuns of the abbey of Longchamp, just outside Paris.

Composer Biography

Sébastien de Brossard, a composer featured on this album, was known for creating the first of the numerous musical dictionaries that appeared in the 18th century.

Composer's Artistic Vision

François Couperin strove to combine French and Italian musical styles, culminating in his collection of sonatas titled 'Les goûts réunis' (the reunited styles).

Composer Biography

Sébastien de Brossard was a passionate bibliophile who amassed a voluminous library of musical scores, including works by nearly 1000 composers, with a notable preference for Italian works.