Pièces de Clavecin, Livre 1 [4/5]: Ordre 4 en Fa majeur - Couperin (Score)

Score of François Couperin's fourth order in F major from his first book (published in 1713) of "Pieces for the Harpsichord", an extensive collection of 220 short compositions arranged in 27 orders. This one marks a major shift (literally!): while the three previous were solemn, very lenghty and in a minor tonality, this is the first order in a major key, and the subsequent change of mood is even followed by a change of structure. The lenght is lessened dramatically, with a total of only four pieces; the sense of a common general organization that the latest orders seemed to establish - an introductory allemande, two following courantes, a sarabande or a gavotte and a final collection of various short pieces - has disappeared completely, as if this was an entirely different and new type of order, more fresh and vivid (check the fandango-esque "Le Réveil-matin", with its upbeat tremolos in octave). An order is similar in nature to the suite - that is, in its historical definition, a succession of dance movements. Nevertheless, Couperin decides to interpret them in a vaguer way (as its name, "order", implies) and frees them from their strict structure, turning them into a more poetic, expressive and audacious design. For example, some of them can have around 20 pieces or even more, making them twice as long as any Bach or Handel suite. The name of their movements are also a clear example of his particular quasi-narrative view: titles like "The Butterflies", "March of the Grey-Dressed", "The Mysterious Barricades", "The Brave Girl" or "The Victorious Nightingale" demonstrate his depictive intentions. But these musical depictions are not always explicit or detailed; they remain capricious and, as stated before, poetic. Couperin was also an amazing keyboard virtuoso, both at the harpsichord and the orgue, and one can identify these qualities in the astoundingly ornamented style these orders have. 00:00 - (Introduction) 00:18 - "La Marche des Gris-vêtus" 03:10 - "Les Baccanales" 09:21 - "La Pateline" 12:56 - "Le Réveil-matin" Performer: Scott Ross ("La Favorite" is performed by Chiara Massini)

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