COUPERIN: CONCERTS ROYAUX - SAVALL, LES CONCERT DES NATIONS (HYBRID SACD)

Following our versions of François Couperin’s “Pièces de Viole”(1728), “Les Nations” (1726) and “Les Apothéoses” (1724), recorded in 1976, 1985 and 1986, respectively, we now offer our interpretation of these “Concerts Royaux”, mindful of the responsibilities that the composer laid at the performing musician’s door. Although he points out that these pieces “are of a kind quite different from those I have previously published”, adding that “They may be played not only on the harpsichord, but also the violin, the flute, the oboe, the viol, and the bassoon”, he leaves the instrumentation of each piece and Concert entirely up to us. Couperin tells us that “These pieces were executed by Messieurs Duval, Philidor, Alarius and Dubois: I myself played the harpsichord”.

François Couperin
Les Concerts Royaux 1722
Premier Concert
– Prélude (Gravement)
– Allemande (Légèrement)
– Sarabande (Mesuré)
– Gavotte (Notes égales et coulées)
– Gigue (Légèrement)
– Menuet en trio
Second Concert
– Prélude (Gracieusement)
– Allemande fuguée (Gayement)
– Air tendre
– Air contre fugué (Vivement)
– Echos (Tendrement)
Troisième Concert
– Prélude (Lentement)
– Allemande (Légèrement)
– Courante
– Sarabande (Grave)
– Gavotte
– Muzette (Naïvement)
– Chaconne lègere
Quatrième Concert
– Prélude (Gravement)
– Allemande (Légèrement)
– Courante françoise
– Courante à l’italiene
– Sarabande (Très tendrement)
– Rigaudon (Légèrement et marqué)
– Forlane. Rondeau (Gayement)
Le Concert des Nations
Marc Hantï flauta travessera, Alfredo Bernardini oboè, Manfredo Kraemer violí, Josep Borràs baixó, Bruno Cocset viola de gamba baixa, Xavier Díaz-Latorre tiorba i guitarra Guido Morini clavecí
Jordi Savall viola de gamba baixa & direcció