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Couperin: Concerts Royaux / Musica Ad Rhenum


Release Date: 03/26/2013 
Label:  Brilliant Classics   Catalog #: 94489  
Composer:  François Couperin
Performer:  Jed Wentz,  Job Ter Haar,  Michael Borgstede,  Ayako Matsunaga
Conductor:  Jed Wentz
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Musica ad Rhenum
Number of Discs: 3 
Recorded in: Stereo 
In Stock: Usually ships in 24 hours.  

Notes and Editorial Reviews

Francois Couperin ‘Le Grand’ is the most important member of the Couperin dynasty, whose elegant and trend setting music is known to have influenced great composers such as J.S. Bach, Telemann and Handel. After becoming organist at St. Gervais in Paris at the age of just 12, he was later appointed Organiste du Chapelle du Roy.

It was here that he composed the Concerts Royaux and the Gouts Reunis (or Nouveaux Concerts) for the entertainment of the aging King Louis XIV. Each includes the florid ornamentation typical of the French Baroque and is extremely adaptable, essentially written for a treble and bass instrument and continuo. They appeared in the same volume as Couperin’s third harpsichord book, and the writing of several Read more has a strong harpsichord feel, suggesting that solo performance on this instrument was also a possibility. The fourteen Concerts vary in style, containing elements of both the French and Italian tradition, but all are testament to the sophistication and decadence of Versailles in the 18th century. The Eighth Concert ‘dans le gout theatral’ is undoubtedly a highlight: a tribute to Jean Baptiste Lully, beginning with an opulent French overture and ‘Grand Ritournelle’ and continuing with eight further varied movements.

The Concerts are brought to you by Jed Wentz’s Musica Ad Rhenum, which has earned a dedicated following in early music circles. With an active concert life and an impressive catalogue of recordings, this group has sought to bring Baroque music to the modern world, proving that it is as inspiring and relevant today as it was in its own era.

OTHER INFORMATION:
Period instrument recording, made in 2004 (The Netherlands).
Contains notes on the composer as well as artist/ensemble biographies. Read less

Works on This Recording

1. Concerts royaux by François Couperin
Performer:  Jed Wentz (Flute), Job Ter Haar (Cello), Michael Borgstede (Harpsichord),
Ayako Matsunaga (Violin)
Conductor:  Jed Wentz
Orchestra/Ensemble:  Musica ad Rhenum
Period: Baroque 
Written: by 1722; Paris, France 
 Date of Recording: 2004 
Venue:  Maria Minor Church, Utrecht, Netherlands 
Length: 49 Minutes 35 Secs. 

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