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François Couperin's Concerts Royaux were keyboard dance suites from 1714, preceding those of the set known as Les Goûts Réunis. Couperin wrote them for a single keyboard but noted that they could also be performed by a small ensemble, and the many available recordings of the pieces have availed themselves of both options. This one by Pierre Gallon and Matthieu Boutineau, however, is unique; it is for two harpsichords, with a few continuo additions from theorbo and Baroque guitar. The suites are presented as versions for two harpsichords; these are not credited to anyone but have been created by the performers. The reasoning for this, as presented in the booklet, draws from the ideas that Couperin, even if he did not suggest this option, clearly imagined the instrumentation as flexible, that Couperin did suggest a two-harpsichord option for the Apothéoses for chamber ensemble, and that harpsichord works by the composer Gaspard Le Roux were said by the composer to be playable on two harpsichords. These factors do not quite prove the point being made by the performance, and this recording might better be regarded as an elaboration on Couperin's music. In some pieces, the two players each perform the bass line, distributing the rest of the music between them, and this creates a rich, monumental sound that differs quite a bit from the usual intimate detail one associates with Couperin. The effect is intensified by Harmonia Mundi's booming church sound environment, which doesn't correspond with what Couperin imagined, either. It is true that those who want the versions Couperin himself approved have plenty of major recordings to choose from, and this one is genuinely novel. The bottom line is that a bit of sampling will inform listeners as to whether they find the approach convincing or not.
© James Manheim /TiVo
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François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Thibaut Roussel, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Thibaut Roussel, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Thibaut Roussel, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Thibaut Roussel, Guitar, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Thibaut Roussel, Guitar, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
François Couperin, Composer - Pierre Gallon, Harpsichord, MainArtist - Thibaut Roussel, Guitar, MainArtist - Matthieu Boutineau, Harpsichord, MainArtist
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
Album review
François Couperin's Concerts Royaux were keyboard dance suites from 1714, preceding those of the set known as Les Goûts Réunis. Couperin wrote them for a single keyboard but noted that they could also be performed by a small ensemble, and the many available recordings of the pieces have availed themselves of both options. This one by Pierre Gallon and Matthieu Boutineau, however, is unique; it is for two harpsichords, with a few continuo additions from theorbo and Baroque guitar. The suites are presented as versions for two harpsichords; these are not credited to anyone but have been created by the performers. The reasoning for this, as presented in the booklet, draws from the ideas that Couperin, even if he did not suggest this option, clearly imagined the instrumentation as flexible, that Couperin did suggest a two-harpsichord option for the Apothéoses for chamber ensemble, and that harpsichord works by the composer Gaspard Le Roux were said by the composer to be playable on two harpsichords. These factors do not quite prove the point being made by the performance, and this recording might better be regarded as an elaboration on Couperin's music. In some pieces, the two players each perform the bass line, distributing the rest of the music between them, and this creates a rich, monumental sound that differs quite a bit from the usual intimate detail one associates with Couperin. The effect is intensified by Harmonia Mundi's booming church sound environment, which doesn't correspond with what Couperin imagined, either. It is true that those who want the versions Couperin himself approved have plenty of major recordings to choose from, and this one is genuinely novel. The bottom line is that a bit of sampling will inform listeners as to whether they find the approach convincing or not.
© James Manheim /TiVo
About the album
- 1 disc(s) - 26 track(s)
- Total length: 01:01:27
- 1 Digital booklet
- Main artists: Pierre Gallon Matthieu Boutineau
- Composer: François Couperin
- Label: harmonia mundi
- Genre: Classical
2024 harmonia mundi 2024 harmonia mundi
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