A significant portion of the manuscript (34 out of 80 pieces) consists of keyboard transcriptions of music by Jean-Baptiste Lully, a prominent composer of Louis XIV's era.
Compositional Technique
The manuscript contains unmeasured preludes, which are rare in the harpsichord repertoire, and seven of these are previously unpublished.
Album & Artwork
For this album, the pieces are organized by tonality, creating small suites, rather than following the original order found in the manuscript.
Interpretation
The harpsichordist who made the transcriptions in the manuscript used a very personal style, sometimes elaborate, sometimes schematic, with abundant ornaments to create an orchestral effect.
Historical Context
The manuscript belonged to Lydie de Théobon, an attendant to Queen Maria Theresa and later the Princess Palatine, who was also a mistress of King Louis XIV.
Instruments
The recording features a Nicolas Dumont 1704 harpsichord, which was magnificently restored between 2006 and 2016.
Composition History
The harpsichord manuscript score for this album was discovered in 2004 on eBay, initially misidentified as an 18th-century edited volume.
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