La Harpe Royale / Andrew Lawrence-king

This anthology of pieces by Corbetta, Louis and François Couperin, de Visée and Froberger is played, not on harpsichord as one might expect, but on a modern copy of Italian triple-strung harps which were considerably larger, with a bigger compass, longer, lighter strings and a boomier sound than their French counterparts. It is not truly authentic, therefore, despite the use of a period instrument. Nonetheless, the pieces chosen are an excellent vehicle to convey Lawrence-King’s flawless virtuosity. The tuning appears to be mostly in equal temperament, which diminishes the effect of distant chords and dissonances except for pieces such as Froberger’s Lamento, where the temperament used reflects the pathos of the piece’s title. Read more The Baroque harp’s sound is softer-edged than the harpsichord’s and less variety of voicing is possible. Lawrence-King avoids pieces which are too contrapuntal, for which the resonance of the harp is not ideal, although in Les carillons de Paris by Louis Couperin it is beneficial. There is a lovely sense of dance style especially in such dances as Visée’s Sarabande, known to some from the film Les jeux interdits. Notwithstanding a slightly over-resonant acoustic, this is an accomplished and confidently performed disc.

-- Danielle Perrett, BBC Music Magazine
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1. Fantasie caprice de chaconne by Francesco Corbetta

Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century

2. Prelude for Harpsichord in A minor by Louis Couperin

Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; France

3. La Piémontoise by Louis Couperin

Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; France

4. Courante for Harpsichord in A minor by Louis Couperin

Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; France

5. Sarabande for Harpsichord in A minor by Louis Couperin

Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; France

6. Les Carillons de Paris by Louis Couperin

Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: 17th Century; France

7. Tombeau de M de Blanchrocher by Louis Couperin

Performer: Andrew Lawrence-King (Harp)
Period: Baroque
Written: 1713; France

8. Pièces de clavecin, Book 1: Ordre 1 in G minor/G major - Allemande L'Auguste by François Couperin