Output details

CD recording of François Couperin 'Les Nations – Sonades et Suites de Simphonies en Trio' and Jean-Fery Rebel 'Les Caractères de la Danse'

Composed in the mid-1720s, Couperin’s ‘Les Nations’ is the only known work by a French composer to juxtapose the Italian sonata and French suite side-by-side. The title is also misleading, given there are few discernible French or Spanish characteristics in these two collections entitled La Françoise and L’Espagnole. Couperin’s preface declares that the sonatas were composed in the style of Corelli and conceived as introductions to the suites. Whilst the standard dance movements associated with harpsichord suites are present, the order is rather unconventional and the popular character pieces are avoided.

No precise instructions were left for the choice of instrumentation for these works. I have arranged the dances for a pair of flutes or violins, alternating the orchestration and pairings depending on the character, tempo and key of each dance. The continuo group offers three different colours by way of viola da gamba and harpsichord as specified by the composer as well as theorbo for variety.

Rebel’s ‘Les characters de la danse’ was written as a ‘symphonie de danse’, a choreographed work independent of a stage production. The originality of the score, combining elements of the fashionable dance suite together with the virtuosity of the sonata guaranteed its longevity and success. The work presents eleven popular dances from the Court in quick succession. A Parodie published by the Mercure Galant in 1721 has been reproduced in the booklet, offering amusing anecdotes alongside each dance.

The pitch chosen for this recording is A=392, a full tone below modern concert pitch, and often considered to be the performing pitch at the Court of Louis XIV in the first part of the 18th century. At this pitch a thicker gauge of strings was necessary for the violins and viola da gamba.

The recording is distributed worldwide by the Dutch company Channel Classics.