Couperin Dynasty

$32.50
Label
Brilliant Classics
Release Date
January 19, 2024
Format
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    Featuring ⌄
    • COMPOSER
      Louis Constantin, Gervais-Francois Couperin, Francois Couperin, Armand Louis Couperin
    • PERFORMER
      Michael Borgstede, Yago Mahugo, Massimo Berghella, Simone El Oufir Pierini
    Product Details ⌄
    • RELEASE DATE
      January 19, 2024
    • UPC
      5028421970516
    • CATALOG NUMBER
      BRI97051
    • LABEL
      Brilliant Classics
    • NUMBER OF DISCS
      19
    • GENRE
      Classical
    Works ⌄

    1. Pièces de clavecin, Books 1-4, Ordres 1-27

      Composer: François Couperin

      Performer: Michael Borgstede (Harpsichord)

    2. Pièces de clavecin

      Composer: Armand-Louis Couperin

      Performer: Yago Mahúgo (Harpsichord)

    3. Les Quatre Nations

      Composer: Armand-Louis Couperin

      Performer: Yago Mahúgo (Harpsichord)

    4. La chasse

      Composer: Armand-Louis Couperin

      Performer: Yago Mahúgo (Harpsichord)

    5. Suite in G Minor

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    6. Suite in D Minor

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    7. Suite in D Major

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    8. Suite in A Minor

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    9. Suite in A Major

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    10. Suite in C Major

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    11. Suite in F Major

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    12. Suite in E Minor

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    13. Suite in C Minor

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    14. Suite in G Major

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    15. Suite in D Minor

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    16. Suite in B minor

      Composer: Louis Couperin

      Performer: Massimo Berghella (Harpsichord)

    17. Les incroyables, Op. 6

      Composer: Gervais-François Couperin

      Performer: Simone Pierini (Fortepiano)

    18. Variations on Ah! Ça ira!

      Composer: Gervais-François Couperin

      Performer: Simone Pierini (Fortepiano)

    19. Les merveilleuses, Op. 7

      Composer: Gervais-François Couperin

      Performer: Simone Pierini (Fortepiano)

    20. Rondo in D Major

      Composer: Gervais-François Couperin

      Performer: Simone Pierini (Fortepiano)

    21. Piano Sonata in C Major, Op. 1, No. 1

      Composer: Gervais-François Couperin

      Performer: Simone Pierini (Fortepiano)

    22. Piano Sonata in D Major, Op. 1, No. 2

      Composer: Gervais-François Couperin

      Performer: Simone Pierini (Fortepiano)

    23. Variations on Complainte béarnoise

      Composer: Gervais-François Couperin

      Performer: Simone Pierini (Fortepiano)


Admiration for the French composer, harpsichordist and organist, Louis Couperin continues to grow steadily today, but it was not so during his lifetime. The first important edition of his work in modern times, in its latest revision by Thurston Dart (used for this set), catalogues 129 pieces as authentic. Collectively, they help to place Couperin among the greatest composers of the 17th century alongside Frescobaldi, Chambonnieres, Froberger, and D’Anglebert.

Though he wrote religious works as well as chamber music, harpsichord music forms the lion’s share of Louis’s nephew François Couperin’s output: 235 pieces in all, most of them published in the four volumes (or Livres) of Pièces de Clavecin, divided into 27 ordres.

Like the better-known Jacques Duphly and Claude Balbastre, Armand-Louis Couperin belongs to the last generation of French harpsichord composers. The modesty and success which profited Armand-Louis handsomely during his lifetime rather dimmed the light of his creative legacy. He published little during his own lifetime. One of only a few opuses, the magnificent volume of Pièces de clavecin deserves consideration alongside the viol fantazias of Purcell and the Lachrymae of Dowland, examples of lateness in music, where the fruit has ripened beyond high summer, yet there is much of interest in these pieces, beyond their historical value at the end of a distinguished family line.

Armand-Louis’s son, Gervais-François Couperin, studied with his father then replaced him at the Sainte-Chapelle organ. His keyboard compositions reveal a profound understanding of the delicate nuances and expressive capabilities of the harpsichord, characterized by elegance, refinement and meticulous attention to ornamentation. Yet Gervais-François was also a virtuoso on the new instrument of his day, the fortepiano, and this set features his music performed on that keyboard of greatly expanded expressivity.

REVIEW:

Brilliant Classics’ Couperin Dynasty collection usefully gathers together François’s four dazzling books of harpsichord pieces (Michael Borgstede), Massimo Berghella playing harpsichord suites by Louis (historically the first important member of the Couperin family), harpsichord pieces by Armand-Louis (cousin of François) played by Yago Mahugo and catchy, vivacious fortepiano music by Gervais-François (a son of Armand-Louis and a contemporary of Beethoven) adeptly performed by Simone Pierini. The range of music on offer stretches from Gervais-François’s feisty variations to François’s majestic Passacaille, one of the finest masterpieces in the genre. It’s a musical feast to relish, more varied than you might expect. Excellent sound, too, and informative notes by Michael Borgstede, Peter Quantrill, Brigida Cristallo and Massimo Berghella.

— Gramophone