Couperin: Pieces de Clavecin

1. Ordre 11, for harpsichord, (Pièces de clavecin, Book II) Les Fastes de la grade et ancienne Mxnxstrxndxsx
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

2. Suite, Op 13 Les Baricades Mistérieuses
Composed by Pavel Haas
with Olivier Baumont

3. Ordre 12, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book II) La Fileuse
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

4. Ordre 18, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book III) Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou les Maillotins
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

5. Ordre 15, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book III) Le Dodo ou L'amour au Berceau
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

6. Ordre 15, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book III) Les Foilies francoises ou les Dominos
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

7. Pièces de clavecin, for harpsichord, Book IV Les Chérubins ou l'aimable Lazure
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

8. Ordre 25, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book IV) Les Ombres Errantes
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

9. Ordre 22, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book IV) Les Tours des Passe-passe
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

10. Ordre 3, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book I) L'Espagnolète
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

11. Ordre 2, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book I) La Garnier
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

12. Ordre 4, for harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin, Book I) Le Réveil-matin
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

13. L'Art de toucher le clavecin Prelude No 8
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

14. Pièces de clavecin, for harpsichord, Book IV 21st order, La Couperin
Composed by Francois Couperin
with Olivier Baumont

15. Pièces de Clavecin for harpsichord Allemande la Couperin
Composed by Francois D'Agincour
with Olivier Baumont

16. La Couperin
Composed by Louis De Caix d'Hervelois
with Olivier Baumont

17. Pieces de viole & continuo, Book 1, suites 1-5, complete (1747) Noblement et marqué
Composed by Antoine Forqueray
with Olivier Baumont

Couperin: Pieces de Clavecin,Louis De Caix d'Hervelois,Francois Couperin,Francois D'Agincour,Antoine Forqueray,Olivier Baumont,Erato,Chamber,Chamber Music,Classical,Coll. of Character/Single-Movement/Misc. Works for Keyb.,Collection of Dance-Based Music for Keyboard,Keyboard,Miscellaneous,Miscellaneous Music,Music for Keyboard,Suite/Partita for Keyboard

Average customer rating: Excellent recording Highly Recommended! Amazing A gentleman musical agreement! Extreme virtuosity

Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso Johann Sebastian Bach , François Couperin , Gabriel Fauré , Isaac Albeniz , Anonymous , Francisco Tarrega (y Eixea) , Silvius Leopold Weiss , Claude Debussy , Maurice Ravel , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Gordon Young , Georg Philipp Telemann , Heitor Villa-Lobos , Manuel de Falla , Manuel Ponce , Enrique Granados , Mario Castelnuovo-Tedesco , Andrew York , Fernando Sor , Gaspar Sanz , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Christopher Parkening Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Duets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Falla | Falla, Manuel de | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Fauré, Gabriel | ( F ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Granados, Enrique | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart | Mozart, Wolfgang Amadeus | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Ravel, Maurice | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Satie | Satie, Erik | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Tarrega | Tarrega, Francisco | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Telemann, Georg Philipp | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Villa-Lobos, Heitor | ( V ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Debussy | Debussy, Claude | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Telemann, Georg Philipp | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Villa-Lobos, Heitor | Composers | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Symphonies | Forms & Genres | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Guitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Parkening, Christopher | ( P ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music Gospel | Christian & Gospel | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Christopher Parkening plays Bach Simple Gifts: Christopher Parkening In the Spanish Style / Christopher Parkening The Christopher Parkening Guitar Method - Volume 2: Guitar Technique Christopher Parkening - A Tribute to Segovia ASIN: B000002RTR Release Date: 1993-09-14

Tracks:

1. Fugue From Violin Sonata No. 1, BWV 1001 - J S Bach
2. Estudio brillante
3. Etude No. 1 In E Minor
4. Recuerdos de la Alhambra
5. Leyenda
6. Romance
7. Rumores de la Caleta
8. Capricho Arabe
9. Cantata 147: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
10. Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 1
11. Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude No. 6
12. Cantata 140: Sleepers Awake
13. Prelude, Fugue, And Allegro: Allegro
14. Cantata 208: Sheep May Safely Graze
15. Les Barricades mysterieuses
16. Preambulo & Allegro vivo: Preambulo And Allegro vivo
17. Passacaglia
18. The Girl With The Flaxen Hair
19. Gymnopedie No. 1
20. Empress Of The Pagodas
21. Afro-Cuban Lullaby

Tracks:

1. Fourth Lute Suite: Praludium
2. Fairest Lord Jesus
3. Praise Ye The Lord, K. 339
4. Simple Gifts
5. Hymn Of Christian Joy
6. Cantata 29: We Thank Thee, Lord
7. Cantata 156: Arioso
8. Cantata 99: What God Hath Done
9. Canon
10. Dolly Suite: Berceuse
11. La Vida breve: Spanish Dance No. 1
12. Terezinha De Jesus
13. Prelude (In The Baroque Style)
14. Goyescas: Intermezzo
15. Prelude & Fugue No. 4 In E: Fugue
16. Evening Dance
17. Variations On A Theme Of Mozart
18. Canarlos
19. La Maja de Goya
20. El Noi de la Mare
21. Concierto de Aranjuez: Adagio - J. Rodrigo

Customer Reviews:

Excellent recording.......2007-05-12

If you are a fan of classical guitar than this is a must own set. I enjoy every moment.

Highly Recommended!.......2006-12-23

I would recommend this CD to anyone who loves music--period! Christopher Parkening is unquestionably one of the greatest classical guitarists of all-time. He embodies personal excellence like no other and is a brilliant artist. This CD is a must-have for any classical enthusiast. My favorite pieces include: Tárrega's "Recuerdos de la Alhambra," "Romance," Bach's "Prelude No. 6," and Rodrigo's "Concierto de Aranjuez." There are other versions of these pieces as well, but I always prefer Parkening's renditions, as they are oh so extraordinary--especially the recording of Aranjuez!! Other guitarists never seem to capture the essence of Rodrigo's musical masterpiece (e.g., Göran Söllescher in "Mad About Guitars"). But Parkening did! And the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra was a perfect accompaniment.

This CD is definitely worth buying. Included is a CD booklet, which illustrates the history of Parkening's illustrious career, interesting tidbits about all 25 recorded pieces, and several photos of his early life to his "breathtaking performance" at Rodrigo's 90th birthday celebration at the Royal Festival Hall in London, 1992.

Amazing.......2006-05-08

I am not going to go into great detail. I am working on a degree in classical guitar and I can say this is something to strive for. His musical interpretation of the peices represented here are some of the best I've heard. His tone,color, and phrasing is incredible.

A gentleman musical agreement! .......2006-03-16

In guitar ` s playing there have been many renowned performers, gifted of exuberant technique. But curiously the Apollonian playing is not by itself strictly enough. The guitar is the instrument which is closer to heart as any other one. It demands from you passion and sentiment. There have been three well known guitarists, one of them from England and the other one from Spain and the third one from Japan whose sensibility was totally absent in their performances.

But fortunately for us, there have been notable interpreters that have been maintained a desired balance and contrast between brain and heart, achieving great distinction and total acknowledgement around the world. I would name seven primordial names along the instrument `s story. First of all: the mythic soloist Andres Segovia, Regino Sainz de la Maza, John Williams, Alirio Diaz, Manuel Berrueco, Siegfried Behrend and Christopher Parkening, among the most representative ones of a great list.

Christopher Parkening `s career has made a brilliant colorist, an impeccable and sensitive interpreter of this well reduced repertoire. His profound artistic conviction and convincing phrasing has been a perpetual motive of constant invitations and presentations around the world.

Extreme virtuosity.......2005-09-25

CP has become my chief inspiration to improve as a classical guitarist. His performances here are, without exception, phenomenal. He makes the most difficult pieces sound effortless. I prefer CP over John Williams because, while Williams is also unquestionably a master, he sounds a bit robotic to me at times. CP, on the other hand, never sacrifices musicality to precision. He sublimely maintains both.

Average customer rating: Couperin Huzzah for Early Music Lover. Beware : This is Recorded on the Wrong Instrument! Coup Good useful Perfomances of Attractive Music

Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 1 Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Hewitt, Angela | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: François Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 2 François Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 3 Rameau: Keyboard Suites Chabrier: Piano Music Bach: The Toccatas ASIN: B00008IHWH Release Date: 2003-05-13

Tracks:

1. Les Moissonneurs
2. Les Langueurs-Tendres
3. Le Gazouillement
4. La Bersan
5. Les Baricades Misterieuses
6. Les Bergeries
7. Le Commere
8. Le Moucheron
9. La Verneuille
10. La Verneuillete
11. Soeur Monique
12. Le Turbulent
13. L'Attendrissante
14. Le Tic-Toc-Choc Ou Les Maillotins
15. Le Gaillard-Boiteux
16. Le Raphaele
17. Allemande: L'Ausoniene
18. Premiere Courante
19. Seconde Courante
20. Sarabande: l'Unique
21. Gavotte
22. Rondeau
23. Gigue
24. Passacaille
25. La Moriente

Customer Reviews:

Couperin.......2007-06-27

Music in pristine condition. Quick delivery. Very satisfied. I am having great fun learning it. It is not easy.

Huzzah for Early Music Lover........2007-05-12

I am so tired of seeing the euphemism "keyboard" music or "keyboard" concerto. When I do, I know that the piece in question is a harpsichord piece played on an instrument that it wasn't intended for. Those who argue that piano performances are likely to be by superior artists or that the piano is an inherently superior instrument have been listening to the wrong performer or the wrong harpsichord. Let's all get together and demand the real thing.

Beware : This is Recorded on the Wrong Instrument!.......2006-06-06

The piano simply cannot capture the character or charm of this music no matter how much artificial reverb is added by the engineers. It all comes out comparatively lifeless and unvaried. If you must buy this recording please also check out a harpsichord version.

Coup.......2006-01-15

The Haydn fan (below) makes some interesting points, but his grammar is lousy ("compare either ladies playing") and his tastes are questionable. To wit, he is way wrong on Marcelle Meyer, whose survey of Rameau, Couperin and Scarlatti, among others, on the EMI "Les Introuvables" series is one of my favorite keyboard recordings of all time, while Horowitz's frenetic Scarlatti pales next to Maria Tipo's. As for the snippets of the heavily reverbed Hewitt I sampled, avoid.

Good useful Perfomances of Attractive Music.......2005-09-22

As one reviewer correctly observed, Ms. Hewitt is given an enormous amount of reverberation. Older recordings of French pianists playing music from this era tended to be either way too dry, acoustically, or far too echo-ridden. Apparently there are still highly-paid engineers who can't properly mike a piano. (And I sure hope it wasn't intentional!)
These Couperin performances are certainly to be preferred to the vastly over-rated Scarlatti recordings of Marcelle Meyer made on a piano in 1947 - far too buttoned-up and rigid. (Yet you need only compare either ladies piano playing to the memorable Scarlatti performances of Horowitz to understand just how much more delightfully pieces from this era might be performed.)
In my judgement the Couperin here recorded does not rise to the highest class. No offense meant, but once upon a time recordings were made by the very best in their field. Thus RCA recorded Rubinstein in Chopin and that was that. Certainly other fine pianists played Chopin, sometimes even more successfully. But the bar Rubinstein set was very high indeed. Nowadays with so many recording companies an endless number of performers are recorded ad nauseum. And if I certainly do not think Ms Hewitt is an average performer - far from it - I certainly don't think of her as the Couperin recording equivalent of Rubinstein in Chopin.
To take just one example, the famous barricades - anyone fortunate enough to have heard Kipnis perform this most charming of all French keyboard works is unlikely to be much moved by hearing it played as it sounds here. Sadly a wonderful recording by Kipnis appears no longer available.
If you seek adventure consider taking a chance on the Arbiter CD of Madeleine de Valmalete. There are no Baroque selections, but her recording of the Ravel Tombeau de Couperin, the first ever, is astonshing in its floating tone. Somewhat like Plante. You can even compare the performance to Ms.Hewitts for fun. But rememeber - this is a very old recording.
In the meantime if you own a record player try to seek out the Kipnis LP - I think you'll be pleased. And if it's issued on CD grab it for the Barricades - alone worth the price of any CD.

Average customer rating: more wonderous with each passing year Pinnacle The Perfect Storm Parkening Play Bach and Plays Him Stunningly! Masterpiece

Christopher Parkening plays Bach Manufacturer: EMI Classics ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Handel | Handel, George Frideric | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Alessandro Scarlatti | Scarlatti, Alessandro | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Instruments | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General Modern | Modern, 20th, & 21st Century | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Cello | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Guitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Cantatas | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Cantatas | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Simple Gifts: Christopher Parkening In the Spanish Style / Christopher Parkening Christopher Parkening - The Great Recordings ~ By America's Preeminent Guitar Virtuoso Christopher Parkening - A Tribute to Segovia Artistry of Christopher Parkening ASIN: B000002RNJ Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Canata 147: Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring
2. Sonata VI For Violin, E Major Partita: Gavotte
3. The Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude I
4. The Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude VI
5. The Well-Tempered Clavier: Prelude IX
6. Cantata 208: Sheep May Safely Graze
7. Prelude, Fugue And Allegro In E Flat Major For Clavier, Original For Lute): Prelude and Allegro
8. Cello Suite V: Gavotte I And II
9. Cello Suite VI: Gavotte I And II
10. Cantata 140: Sleepers, Awake
11. Parkening Plays Bach And Music Of Handel, Scarlatti, Couperin And Others: Sarabande And Variations
12. Samson: Minuet in D
13. Parkening Plays Bach And Music Of Handel, Scarlatti, Couperin And Others: Giga
14. Parkening Plays Bach And Music Of Handel, Scarlatti, Couperin And Others: Passacaglia
15. Ordres, Book II: Les Barricades mysterieuses
16. Parkening Plays Bach And Music Of Handel, Scarlatti, Couperin And Others: Preambulo And Allegro vivo

Customer Reviews:

more wonderous with each passing year.......2006-11-13

Most of the reviewers have said (and better than I can) what makes this album so special. I remember having this on cassette and wearing it out. People who have no interest (and sometimes I can't blame them...) in classical music might grow fond of this if they give it a try. You don't need any kind of background or knowledge, just a willingness to open your heart and ears to something so sublime it is beyond words. Bach is our true musical spiritual leader!

Pinnacle.......2005-10-24

I can't over-exaggerate the impact this album had on me when my Dad played it for me when I was about 6. It encouraged me to become a guitarist, and hearing it was my first truly profound musical experience that I can remember.

I love all kinds of music, but nothing has touched me like this album in the 19 years since then. Parkening's reading of Bach arranged for the classical guitar is flawless on this recording; no one, not even his mentor has matched it.

"Jesu, Joy of Man's Desiring", "Sheep May Safely Graze" and especially "Sleepers Awake" are the best renditions of these songs that I've heard, regardless of the arrangement. His control and dynamics are just staggering.

I can't explain where this album or music came from. It's my absolute favourite album. It's part of human evolution and the continually unfolding Great Work.

The Perfect Storm.......2005-04-07

The are times when the musician, the composer, and the instrument just match perfectly; this disc is an example of that.

Nevermind that Bach never wrote a single note for the guitar, many of his pieces actually work better on the guitar than they would the clavier. The guitar provides much more opportunity for the musician to impart emotion by varying volume and tone. And Parkening capitalizes on that opportunity beautifully.

His playing is clean, thoughtful, and competent. This is, in my opinion, clearly Parkening's best recording. I highly recommend it. (I also recommend his In the Spanish Style, another of my favorites).

Parkening Play Bach and Plays Him Stunningly!.......2005-02-18

I have loved this recording for over 20 years. I had it on vinyl and was thrilled when it was released in 1985 onto CD along with 6 extra cuts. Originally a Bach interpretive LP of 10 tracks, the CD release added 6 compositions from Couperin, Handel, Weiss, Scarlatti and Visee.

This is now a rare recording, so get it while you can. It's peaceful, highly skilled and simply Christopher Parkening, playing bare and alone, and shining like the sterling musician he is!

Masterpiece.......2003-09-24

The music of J. S. Bach seems to bring out the best in Christopher Parkening. Mr. Parkening understands Bach, and plays his music with grace, intelligence and sensitivity. He displays those qualities magnificently on this collection.

The selections here represent a wide variety of Bach pieces: portions of cantatas, solo cello works, and pieces from the Well-Tempered Clavier. All of the pieces are transcribed skillfully for solo guitar, and every track flows naturally into the next. Standouts among the Bach pieces include "Sheep May Safely Graze" and "Sleepers Awake"--two meditative cantata selections which were so brilliantly arranged and performed that you'd almost think they were originally written for guitar.

And the additional baroque works presented here are not just "filler." Mr. Parkening gives stunning performances of great pieces composed by baroque giants like Handel, and he closes the recording in great style, with a passionate performance of Scarlatti.

Music doesn't get more enjoyable than this.

Average customer rating: A very nice album for SCAdian ears Recording is defective adequate performances but totally inadequate information A nice overview of very early music Don't Be Affraid

Medieval & Renaissance Minstrels, Songs & Dances Manufacturer: Legacy ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Baroque Dance Suites | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music | Allemandes | Courantes | Gigue | Sarabande General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Dowland | Dowland, John | ( D ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Ballets & Dances | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Folk | Styles | Music Traditional Folk | Folk | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Noels | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Oratorios | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Virelais | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General Christmas | Holiday | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Classical General | Classical | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Folk General | Folk | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music CDs $7 - $10 | Choruses | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music All Bargain Titles | Choruses | Opera & Vocal | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music General Christmas | Holiday Music | Special Features | Music Similar Items: Music for a Medieval Banquet Sinners & Saints: The Ultimate Medieval and Renaissance Music Collection Medieval Dance Music Courts, Kings, & Troubadours: Medieval & Renaissance Music English Renaissance Music ASIN: B000002NR5 Release Date: 1994-07-18

Tracks:

1. Renaissance Song & Dance
2. Dance Suite - Eramus Widmann - Collection Of1613
3. Three English Songs For Voices And Instruments
4. Instrumental Music Of The Early Barogue
5. Festive Sounds
6. Trouvere Tunes
7. The Cabinet Organ
8. Lauda And Motet
9. Minstrel Melodies
10. Medieval Dances

Customer Reviews:

A very nice album for SCAdian ears.......2007-04-25

This is a fun album. it's festive, playful, and a real joy to listen to. There is something for everyone in this album--including and especially SCAdians. In fact there's probably at least one piece on this album that every SCAdian dancer, musician, and/or bard will recognize. There's courtly songs, love songs, and get out of your chair dances, even formal pieces you associate with concert halls.

Whether you play in the SCA or just love great historical music, this is one of the better albums I've ever bought--on amazon or anywhere else!

Recording is defective.......2007-04-06

The first one I got had a lot of popping and crackling, and some digital defects that cause the CD player to skip. I liked the music so I bought another copy and it was the same. Both wound up in the trash. Don't waste your money on this disk.

adequate performances but totally inadequate information.......2005-04-27

It is perhaps unfair to judge the performances on this recording (presumably made in the late 1950s/early 60s? - we are not given a date) by modern standards of early music performance. Yes, there are moments when the experimental nature of the approach is all too apparent, both in terms of the [im]plausibility of the interpretations and in the [at times] excruciating intonation (a particularly pertinent example is the shawm playing in track 10). But what is in fact by far the most deplorable feature of this recording is the utter sparsity of information provided - about the performers, the instruments, the composers, the repertoire, etc. Worse still, what little that is provided is often hopelessly inaccurate: sometimes in the form of blatant spelling errors (eg the Coventry Carol becomes here 'Lully Lullary', etc), at other times factual blunders (the medieval 'Estampie' in track 10 is in fact a 16th cent [ie Renaissance] tourdion, 'Quand je bois du vin clairet', whilst John Dowland's 'Frogg Galliard', c.1597, is here given an anonymous attribution...etc, etc, etc).

In short, for those not acquainted with pre-Baroque music, this is NOT a good place to start!!! Seasoned Early Music connoisseurs, on the other hand, may find a perverse pleasure in some atrocious moments, or perhaps take interest in its value as an example of historically informed performance style in the pioneering years - but you have been warned!!

For those interested, here are some alternative recommendations if you are new to this music: firstly, 2 wide-ranging compilations by 2 well-known ensembles -

1. Sinners and Saints - The New London Consort/Philip Pickett (Decca 48559)
2. Portrait ('Moyen Age et Renaissance') - Hesperion XX/Jordi Savall (Auvidis Fontalis 'Portrait' ES9904), or either of the 2 new compilations by Savall and his ensemble(s) on Alia Vox ('Harmonie Universelle', AV9810; 'Harmonie Universelle II', AV9839).

and a compilation (mostly of early music) featuring a number of different groups -

'Pastime with Good Company' (Alpha, A901) [includes groups like L'Arpegiatta, Le Poeme Harmonique, Diabolus in Musica...]

A nice overview of very early music.......2003-12-02

This was one of the first recordings of early music I ever bought. It's a broad survey of styles and periods, from the 12th to 17th centuries. I've become a more sohisticated listener since then, but I still get this one out fairly regularly. The recording is apparently old and the digital remastering was not done extraordinarily well, but those who are more interested in music than in audio equipment should be able to listen through the occasional (minor) vinyl surface noise. My major complaint (why I gave it 3 stars instead of 4) is the lack of documentation--there is no information about the musicians, and many of the composers are uncredited (some because they actually are anonymous, but sometimes out of apparent laziness). Still, at this price it's a bargain.

Don't Be Affraid.......2003-11-19

This cd is worth picking up. Yes the first couple of tracks have pops and crackles in it. And yes it sounds as if the music was transfered directly from a vinyl source. But the performances and selections on this cd are fabulous. And you get use to the flaws in the recordings. Which I find minor.

This cd was actually the first Medieval and Renaissance album I ever bought. I bought it randomly in 1992 to try and introduce myself to these two era's of Classical music. And it was PERFECT. I have been a loyal fan of Medieval & Renaissance music ever since. I currently own 25 to 30 cd's covering these era now. And this album is still one of my favorites......

Average customer rating: Look no further. . .

John Williams: The Baroque Album Manufacturer: Sony ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Bourees | Ballets & Dances | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Domenico Scarlatti | Scarlatti, Domenico | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Telemann, Georg Philipp | ( T ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Telemann, Georg Philipp | Composers | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Instruments | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Guitar | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Lute | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Violin | Strings | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Classical Instrumental Music | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Opera & Vocal | The Sony BMG Masterworks Store | Amazon.com Label Stores | Stores | Music Similar Items: Bach: Lute Suites Baroque Guitar Classic Williams: Romance of the Guitar Together Again/ Julian Bream & John Williams The Essential John Williams ASIN: B0000026NO Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

1. Bourrie alla Polacca
2. Sonata in E Major L.23
3. Sonata in D Minor L.108
4. Sonata in A Major L.485
5. Chaconne (From Violin Partita No. 2)
6. Les Barricades mystirieuses
7. Les Moissonneurs
8. Sonata in A Minor L.429
9. Sonata in D Major L.104
10. Passacaglia
11. Fantaisie
12. Tombeau (sur la mort) de M. Cajetan
13. Passacaglia

Amazon.com

The great guitarist John Williams has been around the block several times with much of this music, and some of his performances sound as though he's getting a little tired of it. He plays the guitar extremely well, as always; you will never hear a better-executed performance of the Bach Chaconne, and the difficulties of the Scarlatti Sonatas hardly seem to exist for him. Some of the pieces new to his recorded repertory--Telemann, Roncalli, Couperin--are played with all the expression I want to hear. While this is a good disc, though, it's not the best of John Williams. --Leslie Gerber

Customer Reviews:

Look no further. . ........2000-07-10

I would buy this album again for John Williams' arrangement of the Bach Chaconne alone! I've heard several guitarists play this piece and play it well. However, Mr. Williams' performance gave me goose bumps! All of the other pieces are wonderfully played as well. I particulary liked the Scarlatti and Telemann pieces.

Average customer rating: Baroque music like you've never heard it... Stunning, simply stunning Fabulous recording by gifted musicians Vibrant and inventive Sergio & Odair Assad play Rameau, Scarlatti etc,

Sergio & Odair Assad Play Rameau, Scarlatti, Couperin, Bach Manufacturer: Nonesuch ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by J.S. Bach | Bach, Johann Sebastian | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Rameau | Rameau, Jean Philippe | ( R ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Domenico Scarlatti | Scarlatti, Domenico | ( S ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Fugues | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | International | Styles | Music Similar Items: Sérgio & Odair Assad Play Piazzolla A Brazilian Songbook Music for Two Guitars Nadja Salerno-Sonnenberg, Sergio and Odair Assad L.A. Guitar Quartet: Evening In Granada ASIN: B000005J1N Release Date: 1993-05-18

Tracks:

1. Sonata In C Major, L.305, K.251
2. Pieces de Clavecin: Allemande
3. Pieces de Clavecin: Gigues 1 & 2
4. Pieces de Clavecin: Rigaudon
5. Pieces de Clavecin: Musette en Rondeau
6. Pieces de Clavecin: Le Rappel des Oiseaux
7. Pieces de Clavecin: Le Lardon
8. Pieces de Clavecin: La Follette
9. Pieces de Clavecin: Les tendres plaintes
10. Pieces de Clavecin: Les Cyclopes
11. Le Bavolet Flottant
12. Le Carillon de Cythere
13. The Well Tempered Clavier Book 1: Prelude And Fugue No.3 in C Major
14. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In E Major L.21 - K.162
15. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In F Major L.118 - K.466
16. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In E Major L.430 - K.531
17. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In A Minor L. 241 - K.54
18. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In D Minor L.413 - K.9 In D Minor ('Pastorale')
19. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In G Major L.288 - K.432
20. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In D Major L.465 - K.96
21. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In D Major L.107 - K.140
22. Nine Sonatas: Sonata In D Minor L.422 - K.141 (Toccata)

Customer Reviews:

Baroque music like you've never heard it..........2007-05-01

"The guitar is not the piano and not the harpsichord. It's right in the middle. The harpsichord is too rigid. You can do more on the piano. But this is really music for the harpsichord, so what the combination of two guitars gives to the music is the range of the piano and the sound of the harpsichord. These sonatas have been played by many guitarists, but they're difficult to transcribe for one guitar. With two guitars, anything is possible."
- Sergio Assad (in the liner notes for Ramaeu, Scarlatti, Couperin, Bach)

I could not agree more with Sergio's assessment of the guitar duo in relation to baroque keyboard music, and I've never enjoyed the genre more than I do listening to this album. The harpsichord and guitar are not as different as one might initially think; the two both use plucked strings, unlike the piano, which uses hammered strings. But the guitar has a much more expressive quality to it than the harpsichord, with a greater range of timbral possibilities. It's only drawback is the difficulty of arranging contrapuntal keyboard music, which generally features multiple simultaneous melodies, for the guitar. Adding a second guitar fixes this problem.
With any other guitarists, the performances might sound disjointed and lose the uniformity that a solo performer brings to the music; but the Assad brothers might as well be one person. They know each other's playing well enough that every dynamic and rhythmic nuance of the music is perfectly synchronized, with an expressiveness generally lacking from other performances. The only downside: after hearing this album, the harpsichord will never sound good enough again.

Stunning, simply stunning.......2007-04-22

I heard the "Cyclops" section of Rameau's inventive suite on XM classics, and I absolutely had to have this CD. I like Rameau and Scarlatti anyway, but I was unprepared for how the Assad duo could sound like one guitar, like a harpsichord but better. This music was originally for keyboard, but it sounds incredible on guitar.

The delicacy of the Assad technique is unequalled by any other guitarists I've heard. How they make this music, I'll never know. But it's one of my favorite cd's and so restful and refreshing. There is a lot of music on this cd and it's all wonderful.

Fabulous recording by gifted musicians.......2006-12-02

Let me start by saying that I am not a musician or even a particularly well-trained listener, but I do have a sizable collection of baroque music and guitar music in general. I know what I like, and I absolutely love this recording. The music is beautiful, just beautiful; and the musicianship is, near as I can tell, flawless and expressive. Scarlatti and Bach, sure they are wonderful, but I have become a fan of Ramaeu since buying this CD.

My suggestion: Click on the links to sample the sort of music on this CD. The sound quality will not be very good, of course, but if these songs sound anything close to the sort of music that you like, then buy the CD. Oh, and get the best sound system you can afford. This recording merits being played on the best. Enjoy!

Vibrant and inventive.......2005-10-07

This is a wonderful recording of classical guitar. One of the interesting (and perhaps ironic) bits is that all of the compositions on this CD were originally done for harpsichord, such as Bach's well known compositions for the Well-Tempered Clavier. The composers here - Domenico Scarlatti, Jean-Philippe Rameau, Francios Couperin, and Johann Sebastian Bach - are all masters of the keyboard composition, here adapated by the Assad brothers, Sergio and Odair.

From their official biography, 'As children, the Assads' mandolinist father guided their discovery of Brazilian music. Their uncanny ability to play guitar together soon evidenced itself, and seven years of study with the classical guitarist and lutenist Monina Tavora (a disciple and former pupil of Andrés Segovia) followed. The Assads' American career began in 1969, under the "Youth for Understanding" aegis. A major prize at the "Rostrom of Young Interpreters" in Bratislava, Czechoslovakia, launched their European career. They also achieved victory in the 1973 Brazilian Symphonic Orchestra competition for young soloists. They have performed in recital and with orchestra throughout France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Greece, Poland, Luxembourg, Slovenia, Switzerland, the Netherlands, Scandinavia, Australia, Great Britain, the Far East, Argentina, and their native Brazil.'

Their sensitivity to string instrument is well founded, and when they turned their attention to compositions for the keyboard, they found that with two guitars, there was a richness that is missing from the more simple 'monochromatic' performance of the keyboard.

As Sarah Cahill states in her introduction to this CD, there is a reason why these pieces sound natural being played on the guitar - harpsichord strings are plucked in similar ways to guitar strings, unlike piano strings which are struck by hammers. Scarlatti wrote for the Queen of Spain, among others. Couperin served in the French court, composing music for lute in addition to harpsichord. Rameau, an organist and composer, also comes from the French school, and J.S. Bach needs no introduction as the pinnacle of composing power in Germany of the eighteenth century.

Sergio and Odair Assad have spent a good deal of time developing a Baroque manner to playing these pieces on their guitars, as to be more faithful to the types of compositions. This CD is a true pleasure to behold, the textures and energy of the music being very vibrant and inventive in many ways.

Sergio & Odair Assad play Rameau, Scarlatti etc,.......2005-07-28

This is probably the best classical guitar CD recording I have ever heard.These two brothers are just amazing.

Average customer rating: Endlessly delightful More French Baroque music on piano

François Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 3 Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Chaconnes | Variations | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music Hewitt, Angela | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: François Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 2 Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 1 Rameau: Keyboard Suites Chabrier: Piano Music Bach: The Toccatas ASIN: B000B8656Y Release Date: 2005-11-08

Tracks:

1. Les Lis Naissans
2. Les Rozeaux
3. L'Engageante
4. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
5. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
6. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
7. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
8. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
9. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
10. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
11. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
12. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
13. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
14. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
15. Les Folies Francoises, Ou Les Dominos
16. L'Ame-En-Peine
17. Le Rossignol-En-Amour
18. La Linote-Efarouchee
19. Les Fauvetes Plaintives
20. Le Petit-Rien
21. Les Idees Heureuses
22. Le Dodo, Ou L'Amour Au Berceau
23. La' Mezangere
24. La Muse-Plantine
25. Le Reveil-Matin
26. La Fovorite
27. La Lutine
28. La Distraite
29. L'Himen-Amour
30. La Menetou

Amazon.com

Angela Hewitt is best known for her excellent Bach recordings, but in her less-comprehensive series of Couperin's works written for the harpsichord she matches that high standard. Fans of the French Baroque will know this music and may need to adjust to the sound of the piano. But the open-minded will be captivated by her buoyant playing and by her refusal to imitate the harpsichord. Instead, she brings the resources of the modern concert grand to bear on these stylized scores--"authenticity" becomes irrelevant to the immense pleasure generated. Hewitt's ornamentation is stylishly convincing, as is her wit, attention to detail, and beautiful tonal production. She plays all of the Treizième Ordre and a generous selection of pieces from Couperin's other works, focusing on those she believes work best on the piano. The captivating result makes one sorry that, as she writes in her lucid notes, this will be the last of her Couperin series. Hyperion's vibrant sound does full justice to Hewitt's colorful playing. -- Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Endlessly delightful.......2006-03-05

While I agree that these selections do not match the grandeur of Hewitt's previous recording, they do exude as much -- if not more -- charm and elegance as ever before. Hewitt's playing is nimble, delicate, lucid, and heartfelt. Amazingly coupled with the grace and fluidity of the performances is a captivating touchingness and melancholy. The only disappointment for me is that this is the end of the cycle. Would that there were more!!

More French Baroque music on piano.......2005-12-02

With this third volume, Angela Hewitt concludes her survey of Couperin's major keyboard music and proves that, in the hands of someone as steeped in Baroque keyboard style as herself, music which was previously thought the exclusive domain of the harpsichordist can be fully expressed on modern piano to great effect. So how does this third and last CD compare? In Volume I, we had mostly Couperin's earlier works of great granduer, inventiveness, pure charm and full of sunny, dancing melodies. Then in Volume II (the late works) the landscape darkened a bit with Couperin's most personal expressions of touching poignancy and deep melancholy. Volume III here is a mixture of these moods and showcases the imaginative 13th Ordre with its creative mimicking of twelve characters from a masked ball (of the era of Louis XIV) along with several wonderfully ponderous pieces in true Couperin poetry.

Not only is Hewitt's survey of Couperin's music here rather ground-breaking (given few if any recordings done on the piano for them), but it also sets a high standard. Hewitt's gingerly touch, knack for dance rhythms and poetic depth are well-suited to Couperin's graceful, inventive and sadness-tinged music. Right from the rhythmic opening movement and its "tripping" theme, Miss Hewitt sets a delightful and confident attitide towards this music. In the next two gentle pieces, her lyrical depths emerge to meld with Couperin's melancholic intent. This same emotive playing finds its home in several moving, introspective works (tracks 19, 21 and 26) suggestve of the composer's deep yearings and sadness (from perhaps his health struggles). In all these, Miss Hewitt seems to really find the emotional core and present it to us with great tenderness and artistry.

But, soon the fun and frolic begins with "Les Folies Francoises" - a delightful and imaginative miniature "theme-and-variations" ordre in which each variation parodies some virture or emotion (hope, jealousy, fidelity, despair etc). As such it is truly early "programmic music" - as is most of Couperin's music with their odd titles. In the masked ball parody, Hewitt covers the range of expressive textures brilliantly - from the festivity in the "Couquetry" piece to the dark moodiness of "Jealousy" played in the lower half of the keyboad. As the pianist quotes in her abundant notes, "This work is a microcosm of Couperin's art, its tragic passion, its whitty urbanity, its sensuous charm." Indeed.

Once again here we see Miss Hewitt's mastery of the composer and his music - most notably her scrupulous attention to detail to Couperin's precise score notations. Her skill in these most-important ornamentations show both a well-studied approach and fine taste, integrating them into the tapestry of the music smoothly and attractively. As such, her playing really has a more gentle, feminine quality in its appeal. Hewitt certainly makes a strong case for this music on piano, especially the greater nuance of expression afforded the piano in the slower movements. I know some insist this music is best suited for the harpsichord, but it is hard to resist this artist's ability to produce music of such tonal beauty and pianistic richness. Her emphasis on such tonal beauty is once again fully supported by Hyperion who produced a sparkling clear and bright sound quality (much like Volume II) with richly developed timbre from her Steinway in an attractive, mildly resonant recording ambiance.

While there are many fascinating textures and themes played marvelously by Angela Hewitt in this third release, I have to admit I found the pieces in the first two Hyperion recordings slightly more musically interesting in scope, granduer, lyricism and expressiveness. If you are wondering which one to get first, I would say definately Volume I. But, overall, Hewitt plays this music most elgantly and with just the right elan and sensitively to Couperin's intent. I find a refreshing quality in all her Couperin recordings that makes them some of my favorite to play throughout the day. They are easy on the ear, yet musically rich and satisfying. Fans of Angela Hewitt or the French Baroque should find more of a good thing here in Hewitt's third Couperin CD and much to celebrate in her delicate and tasteful pianism. Also her very useful accompanying notes to guide you along add to the attractiveness of this release. And the cover art is particular sumptuous as well. Rating - 4.5 stars.

And continuing in the tradition of French keyboard music, Angela Hewitt has since recorded works by Emmanuel Chabrier and Rameau - both on the Hyperion label.

Average customer rating: Couperin's introspective late works Another side of Couperin Much improved sound quality over Vol. 1

François Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 2 Manufacturer: Hyperion UK ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Suites | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Hewitt, Angela | ( H ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 1 François Couperin: Keyboard Music, Vol. 3 Rameau: Keyboard Suites Bach: The Toccatas Bach: French Suites / Angela Hewitt ASIN: B0001FYR2G Release Date: 2004-04-13

Tracks:

1. La Visionaire
2. La Misterieuse
3. La Monflambert
4. La Muse Victorieuse
5. Les Ombres Errantes
6. La Reine Des Coeurs
7. La Bondissante
8. La Couperin
9. La Harpee
10. La Petite Pince-Sans-Rire
11. Les Dars-homicides
12. L'Amphibie
13. La Convalescente
14. Gavote
15. La Sophie
16. L'Epineuse
17. La Pantomime
18. L'Exquise
19. Les Pavots
20. Les Chinois
21. Saillie

Customer Reviews:

Couperin's introspective late works.......2005-09-28

This second volume of Francois Couperin's clavier compositions contain his very last works which take on a different tone than found in Volume I. As Ms. Hewitt cites in her excellent liner notes, Couperin's music has always had a element of 'melancholy and mystery' in it, but is much more prominent in his last compositions here and can be foreshadowed in such obscure titles as "The Mysterious One," "The Fatal Dart," or "Wandering Souls." Compared to Vol. I with its lighter, sprightly and dancy tunes, Vol. II contains music of more seriousness, gravity and pensiveness - tinged with pallatable sense of solitude, sadness and even regret that Ms. Hewitt masterfully communicates.

While there are certainly moments of joy (track 4), noble procession and granduer (tracks 1, 12) and even theatrical humor (track 17), the majority of Couperin's last compositions here reveal a diminished optimism for life from a man who had suffered much - and can at times exude an emotional expressivity ahead of its time which is perhaps not unlike Schumann or late Schubert. This sentiment can be most perceived in the magnificant allemande "le Convalescente" (track 13) with its rich harmonic textures, "sighing" motives and descending chromatic scales that seem to express a deep yearning - which Hewitt conveys with a convincing poignancy. So, if Hewitt's first CD of Couperin's earlier works brought out the brightness and gaiety of daytime, some of these later clavier pieces better fit the mood of a rainy night.

It is speculated Couperin was familiar with Bach's "Well-Tempered Clavier" and encorporated some of its ideas in his music. Perhaps so, since as Couperin matured as a composer, he turned to more "Bach-like" elements in his music: descending chromaticisms, unusual keys like F# minor and complex contrapunctal writing - all of which produces a darker mood and deeper sense of mystery which Angela Hewitt thoughtfully expresses with the gentler shadings of the piano (vs. harpsichord) in these recordings. She sensitively plumbs the complex depths of Couperin's intent and convincingly unveils the ellusive emotional content hiding behind the elegantly-textured French surface. I would say she excels in this capacity to draw out the deepest emotional textures in her readings - whether it be the music of Bach, Ravel or Couperin. But, unlike her Bach music in general, Hewitt overall sticks to a limited dynamic range (probably since Couperin gave strict instructions on tempo, ornamentations, dynamics), only excentuating the dynamics in the most stately, processional pieces. Accordingly, this music makes for more non-intrusive listening enjoyment in a quiet moment.

Along with the first volume, this recording got superb music press reviews. Penguin gave it a top 3/3 stars while ClassicsToday (scored at 9/10) praised Hewitt's convincing and beautiful translaton of Couperin's textures to the piano medium. As there are few other piano recordings to compare to Hewitt's music here to, I can only say that her take on these late works seems well done, capturing the various moods and mannerisms of the French clavier master with a contemplative - yet often striking - effect. Her emotionally-insightful and lyrical-rich style is well suited to Couperin's music, and she plays this music most artistically, poetically and beautifully. The Hyperion sound quality is very good here: clear, crisp, no hiss, and pleasantly but not overly resonant - all of which supports the artist's emphasis on tonal beauty. All-in-all, this is a most interesting and emotionally-compelling recording ... but recommmended after the more-varied Volume I which is a better place for most to start to explore Couperin's clavier music (one reason being that her liner notes in Volume I contain an extensive background on Couperin and his style of music). 5 stars.

Another side of Couperin.......2005-06-02

If you love Bach keyboard transcriptions as much as I do, then you really should get this recording of Couperin clavecin transcriptions.

I enjoyed Couperin's keyboard music before and still do, but somehow putting this music to piano lets a soulfullness through that you just don't hear with the harpsichord, (much like with Bach).

The other day I fell asleep to this CD playing and woke up thinking I was listening to the radio and thought to myself 'What is this playing? this is BEAUTIFUL!'

I have to disagree a bit with the above review though, the only fault I have with this CD is the recording (or piano) sounds a tad bit muddy, still. You get over it though, once the music pulls you in.

Much improved sound quality over Vol. 1.......2004-06-19

I purchased this album with slight trepidation, as I found the sound quality of Hewitt's first volume of Couperin keyboard music to be lacking (dull piano, muddy sound), even though the music was extraodinarily beautiful. Happily, this second volume has both beautiful music, and much improved sound (I can actually distinguish the notes!). In fact, the sound quality is first rate, crisp and clear. I highly recommend this album to anyone who enjoyed the first volume, and also anyone who enjoys Bach keyboard music. Hewitt's technique is flawless, and her musicality is second to none.

Average customer rating: Pure enjoyment Good but not Great. Sublime Music In the service of the king Sublime Savall...

François Couperin: Les Concerts Royaux Manufacturer: Alia Vox Spain ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Classical | Imports | Stores | Music Similar Items: Vivaldi: La Viola da Gamba in Concerto Jean-Baptiste Lully: L'Orchestre du Roi Soleil Lully: Les Divertissements de Versailles J.S. Bach: Musikalisches Opfer Tous Les Matins du Monde/Dix Ans Apres ASIN: B0007Y8A9W Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

1. Prelude (Gravement)
2. Allemande (Legerement)
3. Sarabande (Mesure)
4. Gavotte (Notes Egales Et Coulees)
5. Gigue (Legerement)
6. Menuet En Trio
7. Prelude (Gracieusement)
8. Allemande Fuguee (Gayement)
9. Air Tendre
10. Air Contre Fugue (Vivement)
11. Echoes (Tendrement)
12. Prelude (Lentement)
13. Allemande (Legerement)
14. Courante
15. Sarabande (Grave)
16. Gavotte
17. Muzette (Naivement)
18. Chaconne Legere
19. Prelude (Gravement)
20. Allemande (Legerement)
21. Courante Francoise
22. Courante A L'Italiene
23. Sarabande (Tres Tendrement)
24. Riguadon (Legerement Et Marque)
25. Forlane. Rondeau (Gayement)

Amazon.com

Couperin composed these delectable works in 1714 and 1715 for the Louis XIV's Sunday chamber music concerts. When they were published in 1722, he specified the instruments employed in those concerts without indicating how they're used in each of the 25 movements in these four suites. Jordi Savall has taken his cue from Couperin's open-ended particulars to allot lead voices and parts to fit each movement's character, with marvelous results. The music ranges stylistically from lugubrious Preludes to court dances and folk-inspired tunes. Savall and his outstanding players make this graceful music irresistible, finding in it not only courtly elegance but also unexpected expressiveness, as in the melancholy opening Preludes and elsewhere. Everyone will have their own favorite tracks (movements) to return to as "encores" after the disc ends, but be warned: it's hard not to continue on to the next track, and then the next, till you've played the disc through again. This is one of those "don't-miss-this-one" discs. Enjoy! --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

Pure enjoyment.......2005-09-22

Listening to this excellent CD is just pure enjoyment.
This is french baroque at its best ( one would not expect less from Savall and his fantastic ensemble !).
You also get a great variety of top performances : oboe, flute,violin and viola da gamba as soloists.
If you like baroque music, just get this one .

Good but not Great........2005-08-08

While Savall has gathered some of the top players today to join him, the result is largely individualistic. Attention to fine details is lacking, as often ornaments are not played together in the same fashion, nor are phrases entirely similar. The orchestrations are clever and Savall and his collegues give us quite a number of rather touching movements. The overall result is good, and certainly better than some of the terribly square recordings existing on the market already (Robert Claire's bland offering comes to mind). I do find it a shame that given the potential for something quite spectacular with Savall, the end result is just 'good'.

Sublime Music.......2005-08-01

This is an absolutely lovely CD for anyone who appreciates Baroque period music. The music is beautifully performed.

In the service of the king.......2005-07-27

Imagine your charge: you are court composer to the most powerful man who has ever lived. The old king is dying, slowly, his faculties are gradually receding. He has his lucid moments, remembering this or that great triumph. He has his dreamy moments, his visions of beauty and pleasure. His majesty wishes to be entertained, surrounded by those he most highly esteems. The year is 1714, the place the Palais de Versailles: the King is Louis XIV.

You are Francois Couperin. Your music must not jar the king from his reveries, it must carry him, like a leaf, down a graceful French stream on a bright spring day. The birds must twitter, the breezes blow, and the sun! The sun must bounce off the waves as dazzling and blinding jewels of light. Your music must capture the king's melancholy, for he knows his life is ending, and he wants only the bittersweet relish of his life's sweet moments.

You have dazzled him for fifteen years with your own harpsichord music. You know others have greatly pleased him with their music as well: the great Lully, the sublime Marais, that cantakerous Ste Colombe.

So you create a series of entertainments. They must be short, for it is better to have the king ask for another than to have him fall asleep in the middle of a set. And they must be perfect, for you are in the service of the king.

These are four of those entertainments. They serve up all the styles of the old king's long life, they admit only of beauty and majesty.

This is not the music of our times, and it is not likely to be appreciated or enjoyed within the context of our times. If you permit, Sr Savall and his small band of players will take you back three hundred years, and give you those moments the old king had.

They are moments worth having.

Sublime Savall..........2005-04-13

once again Maestro Savall proves himself and his cosmopolitan band of collaborators to be without peer. Perfect for studying, dinner parties, or even fooling around ;) this disc is a must have.

Jordi Savall deserves our sincere thanks for restoring to the world the hithertoo forgotten gems of early music. From the music Charles V would've listened to to this luscious and sublime offering of Couperin's concerts for the Sun King, I am grateful this Catalan genius is continueing to share the fruits of his warmhearted detective work with the world at large.

Pick it up today, don't delay and check out ALL of Alia Vox's efforts too. In a world marred by violence allow Jordi Savall and his team to take you back to a time that seems more civilized, more tolerant and can still help us remember that music knows neither creed nor boundary and can make us all rejoice.

Average customer rating: GREAT!!! Just wonderful. (if you like ancient music) Excellent overview

The Recorder: 4 Centuries of Recorder Music Manufacturer: Lyrichord Discs Inc. ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Couperin, François | ( C ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Holborne, Anthony | ( H ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music All Works by Benedetto Marcello | Marcello, Benedetto | ( M ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Rondos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Character Pieces | Short Forms | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Sonatinas | Sonatas | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music General | Baroque (c.1600-1750) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Vocal & Song | Early Music | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music | Requiems Ballets & Dances | Renaissance (c.1450-1600) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music General | Keyboard | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Chansons | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Partsongs | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Songs & Lieder | Vocal Non-Opera | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music Similar Items: Complete Recorder Concertos The Ultimate Recorder Collection Frans Brüggen Edition Vol. 2 - Italian Recorder Sonatas The Art of the Recorder Van Eyck: Der Fluyten Lust-Hof (Selections) ASIN: B00000620L Release Date: 1998-04-21

Tracks:

1. Two Canticles
2. 7th Royal Estampie
3. Le Ductia
4. Salterello
5. Danse
6. 5th Royal Estampie
7. Royal Danse
8. Lonc le rieu de la fontaine-Regnat
9. Tant Con Je Vivrai
10. Or est Baiars en Hure!
11. Canzona la Bernardino
12. Fantasia
13. Fantasia For Two Basses
14. If Love Now Reigned
15. En vray amoure
16. Torre de la nina - Meu Naranjedo
17. 'Pavana y Gallarda D'Angleterre'
18. Suite For Five Instruments
19. La Alfonsina
20. Canon ad Nonam
21. Gallicum Quoddam
22. Holla Hoi
23. Basse Danse And Tourdion
24. Gavotte And Branle Gai
25. Der Fluyten Lust-Hof: Boffons
26. Variations On A Figured Bass
27. Sonata In D Minor
28. Les Delices - Le Champetre
29. Le Rossignol en Amour
30. Noel VII

Customer Reviews:

GREAT!!! Just wonderful. (if you like ancient music).......2006-12-18

I was not sure about this, but saw another 5 star rating, and decided to take the gamble. This is a really nice CD. It has all sizes of recorders played, and lots of various percussion instruments of the day. This has lots of happy ancient dance songs and more solumn sounding but beautiful peices. The cover says the group is from Argentina. I am now looking for more of their CDs.

Excellent overview.......2000-08-18

I was introduced to this collection at an institute of The California Arts Project which focused on teaching beginning recorder. This CD has an excellent variety...using the different types of recorders, and music of different periods. This CD is good for developing listening skills and for appreciating the importance of the recorder throughout musical history.

Music Review:

1. Dmitry Shostakovich: String Quartet in C minor, No. 8, Op. 110 / String Quartet in D major, No. 4, Op. 83 / String Quartet in F minor, No. 11, Op. 122 - Coull String Quartet
2. Elgar: In the South Op50; Coronation March Op65
3. English Music For Bassoon & Piano
4. Felicity Lott - Mozart ~ Exsultate, Jubilate & 7 Arias
5. Felix Mendelssohn: Prelude & Fugue/Sonatas/Andante With Variations
6. Franz Liszt: Piano Concerto No. 3/De Profundis/Totentanz
7. Franz Schubert: Symphony No. 9 "The Great"
8. French Impressions
9. Giovanni Bottesini: The Virtuoso Double-Bass
10. Grieg: Symphonic Dances; Sigurd Jorsalfar; Lyric Suite

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