Wandering Shades: The Final Harpsichord Works by François Couperin

Featuring

Katherine Roberts Perl
François Couperin

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Interpretation

The performer, Katherine Roberts Perl, changed the plectra material in her harpsichord to bird feather quills, similar to what Couperin would have used, to achieve a more authentic sound.

Compositional Technique

Couperin organized his harpsichord pieces into groups called 'Ordres' rather than the more common 'Suites', containing traditional dances and descriptive pieces.

Cultural Impact

Both Debussy and Ravel explored Couperin's music, with Ravel composing 'Le Tombeau de Couperin' as an homage to 18th-century French music.

Composer Biography

François Couperin, born into a Parisian musical dynasty in 1668, was the most famous and prolific harpsichordist of the French Baroque, earning the title 'Le Grand'.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Couperin's final four 'Ordres' reflect a transition in his life, with his compositional language becoming darker, more dreamy, reflective, and serious due to his failing health.