Couperin organized his harpsichord pieces into 'ordres' with descriptive titles, inventing a new genre that moved away from the traditional Baroque dance suite.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Couperin's music for harpsichord focuses on the melodic line, creating an intimate, conversational style, while Rameau prioritizes harmony, giving his harpsichord works an orchestral and theatrical dimension.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded at the Église de Bon Secours in Paris from October 23 to 26, 2017, with Alice Legros handling artistic direction, sound engineering, editing, and mastering.
Instruments
The Yamaha Artist Services Europe provided the CFX piano used for this recording.
Composer Biography
François Couperin and Jean-Philippe Rameau, two prominent French Baroque composers, were born 15 years apart and had very different career paths, with Couperin serving the King at Versailles and Rameau starting his career later in Paris.
Interpretation
The performer, Clément Lefebvre, utilized all the resources of the modern piano, including pedals, dynamic contrasts, and varied timbres, to highlight the distinct characteristics of Couperin's and Rameau's music.
Composition History
Rameau's 'La Dauphine' was an isolated piece composed in 1747 to celebrate the marriage of Princess Maria Josepha of Saxony to the Dauphin.
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