Released: 30 November 2018
Reference: AP197
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Credits
Recorded by Little Tribeca in September 2017 in the Galerie Dorée of the Banque de France.
Artistic direction: Nicolas Thelliez
Sound engineering, editing, mixing and mastering: Ignace Hauville
Tune: 400 Vallotti
Awards
Released: 30 November 2018
Reference: AP197
Couperin: Les Nations
Performers
- Les Talens Lyriques
- Christophe Rousset
- Atsushi Sakai
- Gilone Gaubert-Jacques
- Gabriel Grosbard
- Jocelyn Daubigney
- Stefanie Troffaes
- Josep Domenech
- Thomas Meraner
- Eyal Streett
- Laura Mónica Pustilnik
Composer
Description
The four Nations by François Couperin (also known as "Couperin the Great") consist of France, Spain, the German Empire and Piedmont (Italy, therefore), though it would be rather futile to look for any truly national characteristics in each of the movements of these four suites. And all the more so due to the fact that many of the pieces had already been composed well before the collection’s publication in 1726, and they were simply renamed... Yet, throughout the thirty-six movements of the work we do hear the French style on the one hand and the more Italianising style on the other, but the many interpolations make it, in fact, a kind of mixed European collection. At most, Spain is entitled to a few rare and truly Iberian turns of phrase, even though they are only visible under a microscope. Christophe Rousset and his musical ensemble Les Talens Lyriques approach these "trios" with joy and respect, knowing that the term "trio" does not necessarily imply three musicians; in fact, the melodic parts are entrusted to two oboes, two flutes and two violins, both together and alternately, while the continuo is played by the bassoon, harpsichord, gamba and theorbo, again either together or in various combinations depending on the musical texture. In this way, the thirty-six movements demonstrate the immense musical richness of these various nations, with all the diversity and contrasts that Couperin has assigned to them.
In the press
Tracklist
François Couperin (1668-1733)
CD1
Premier Ordre « La Française »
1. Sonate Gravement – Gaiement – Rondement – Gaiement – Gravement – Vivement – Air : Gracieusement – Gaiement
Suite :
2. Allemande Sans lenteur
3. Première Courante Noblement
4. Seconde Courante Un peu plus vite
5. Sarabande Gravement
6. Gigue Gaiement
7. Chaconne ou passacaille Modérément – Vif et marqué
8. Gavotte
9. Menuet
Second Ordre « L’Espagnole »
10. Sonade Gravement et mesuré – Vivement – Affectueusement – Légèrement – Gaiement – Gaiement – Air tendre – Vivement et marqué
Suite :
11. Allemande Gracieusement
12. Première Courante Noblement
13. Seconde Courante Un peu plus vivement
14. Sarabande Gravement
15. Gigue lourée Modérément
16. Gavotte Tendrement, sans lenteur
17. Rondeau Affectueusement
18. Bourrée Gaiement – Double de la bourrée précédente
19. Passacaille Noblement et marqué – Vivement et fort
CD2
Troisième Ordre « L’Impériale »
1. Sonate Gravement – Vivement et marqué – Gravement et marqué – Légèrement – Rondement – Vivement
Suite :
2. Allemande Sans lenteur
3. Première Courante
4. Seconde Courante Plus marqué
5. Sarabande Tendrement
6. Bourrée Gaiement
7. Gigue D’une légèreté modérée
8. Rondeau Gaiement
9. Chaconne
10. Menuet
Quatrième Ordre « La Piémontaise »
11. Sonade Gravement et rondement – Vivement – Gravement -Vivement et marqué – Air : Gracieusement – Second Air Gravement et marqué – Légèrement
Suite :
12. Allemande Noblement et sans lenteur
13. Première Courante
14. Seconde Courante Un peu plus gaiement
15. Sarabande Tendrement
16. Rondeau Gaiement
17. Gigue Affectueusement, quoique légèrement
