Monsieur Couperin. Louis, Charles, François I ? Pièces de clavecin
2/12/2021, 24 Tracks, 1:06:52
Featuring
Brice Sailly
Louis Couperin
Did you know?
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Composer Biography
Louis Couperin refused the position of the King's harpsichordist, which would have replaced his benefactor Chambonnières, stating he would not usurp his position.
Compositional Technique
The 'Mr Couperin' volume in the Bauyn manuscript begins with unbarred preludes notated in semibreves, which were considered innovative for their 'daring musical gestures' and 'new type of musical discourse'.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in May 2020 at Château de Mongeroult, with artistic direction, recording, and editing by Jérôme Lejeune.
Composer Biography
Louis Couperin, one of the three Couperin brothers, was discovered by Chambonnières, a prominent harpsichordist, after serenading him on his birthday, leading to his move to Paris and appointment as organist.
Instruments
The harpsichord used on this recording was made by Émile Jobin in 2005, after a model by Tibaut de Tolose.
Composition History
The majority of the works attributed to 'Mr Couperin' survived thanks to their inclusion in the Bauyn manuscript, a significant collection for harpsichordists.
Interpretation
Due to insufficient proof for exact identification, this album prudently retains the attribution of the works to 'Louis Couperin' in square brackets for physical copies, and to Louis for digital distribution.
