COUPERIN, F.: Imperiale

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Fran?ºois Couperin was the finest composer at the court of Louis XIV, the Sun King. In view of the fact that Versailles was the most vainglorious court in late seventeenth- and early eighteenth-century Europe, it is remarkable to realise that Couperin was both personally and artistically discreet and modest. His musical portraits of people and his descriptions of scenes and events were more often intimate, comic and tender than pompously ceremonial. He wrote some extremely beautiful and genuinely spiritual music for ecclesiastical use and produced instrumental music for both strings and woodwind for the delectation of the King and nobility.

Couperin greatly admired Italian baroque composers such as Corelli, and his sonatas demonstrate his lifelong commitment to uniting, in his music, the best of both French and Italian musical conventions. 'Les Nations' is the title under which Couperin published a collection of four large-scale sonatas, and the final two are recorded here, along with one of the 'Concerts royaux' and two preludes from 'L'Art de Toucher le Clavecin'. The first volume was excellently well received, and it is a delight to complete the set.

The Purcell Quartet's releases on Chandos are consistently well reviewed:

The performances by the Purcell Quartet are marvellous... recommended without hesitation.
Fanfare

The performances are stylish and warmly expressive...
Early Music Today