COUPERIN: LES NATIONS - Savall, Huggett & Others (2 Hybrid SACDS)

Born in 1668, François Couperin was the only son of Charles Couperin, the harpsichordist and organist at the old Parisian Church of Saint-Gervais. There had been an organ at the church since the 14th century, and in the 16th century it had two. The organ at the church in 1668 (the fourth) had been built in 1601, and after several refurbishments and improvements, it was one of the finest instruments in the kingdom. François Couperin’s father had two brothers, François and the eldest, Louis, a brilliant musician, who very quickly earned a place as organist at Saint-Gervais, as well as several charges in the King’s Music. When he died in 1661, Charles succeeded him as organist at Saint-Gervais; he was married the following year and in 1668 his only child was born, the second François Couperin in the family, who would come to be known as Le Grand.

PREMIER ORDRE : LA FRANÇOISE

1. I Sonade (Gravement – Gayement – Gravement – Gayement –
Vivement – Gravement – Air. Gracieusement – Gayement) 6’48
2. II Allemande 3’33
3. III Premiere Courante 1’33
4. IV Seconde Courante 1’31
5. V Sarabande 2’39
6. VI Gigue 1’22
7. VII Chaconne ou Passacaille 3’04
8. VIII Gavotte 0’58
9. IX Menuet 1’27

SECOND ORDRE : L’ESPAGNOLE

10. I Sonade (Gravement, et mesuré – Vivement – Air. Affectueusement
Légérement – Gayement – Air tendre – Vivement, et marqué) 8’38
11. II Allemande 2’41
12. III Courante 1’44
13. IV Seconde Courante 1’52
14. V Sarabande 3’02
15. VI Gigue Lourée 2’36
16. VII Gavotte 1’06
17. VIII Rondeau 3’47
18. IX Bourée. Double de la Bourée Précédente 2’00
19. X Passacaille 4’53

 
CD2

TROISIÉME ORDRE : L’IMPÉRIALE

1. I Sonade (Gravement – Vivement – Gravement, et marqué – Légérement
Rondement- Vivement) 10’46
2. II Allemande 2’22
3. III Courante 1’43
4. IV Seconde Courante 1’44
5. V Sarabande 3’08
6. VI Bourée 1’13
7. VII Gigue 1’07
8. VIII Rondeau 2’21
9. IX Chaconne 5’27
10. X Menuet 0’55

QUATRIÉME ORDRE : LA PIÉMONTOISE

11. I Sonade (Gravement – Vivement – Gravement – Vivement et marqué
Air. Gracieusement – Second Air – Gravement, et marqué – Légérement) 9’03
12. II Allemande 2’37
13. III Courante 1’32
14. IV Seconde Courante 2’09
15. V Sarabande 4’01
16. VI Rondeau 2’36
17. VII Gigue 1’50

Enregistrement réalisé en la salle des États de Lorraine du Château de Fléville à
Fléville-devant-Nancy (France) en mai 1983, sous la direction de Michel Bernard