Froberger - Suites & Toccatas – Rousset

Froberger lived and flourished in the mid-17th century, and he was one of the first great German composers of keyboard music. But although his nationality was German, his style was more or less formed and influenced by the Italian school--Frescobaldi in particular. It's a fascinating fact, but you can get through a lot of music history up to the 19th century if you look at it as a series of ideas originating in Italy, further developed by composers in Germany and France. All of these pieces are short, striking, and full of original ideas. This was one of Christophe Rousset's earlier recordings for Harmonia Mundi, and it established him at once as an artist to be reckoned with. Good stuff. --David Hurwitz

CD INFO

Flac, cover

Rousset, Les Talens Lyriques - Les Grandes Eaux Musicales De Versailles

 

This is a perfect collection of dances, overtures, airs, choruses, vocal duets, and trios representing the greatest French Baroque opera composers (and Gluck at his most French, in a tiny, manic vocal trio from Bauci et Filemone), ideal for those who want to get their pieds wet but may have a fear of this particular period, place, and repertoire. And true, the cream-puffed, bewigged music can seem a bit much until you learn to love it--just see it as caloric but not filled with trans-fats, and sit back and enjoy.

These highlights are taken from other recordings; it is a compilation meant to recreate a stroll through the gardens at Versailles when the fountains are all a-twitter and the music is playing through the topiary. Be that as it may, it's a delicious collection of French frippery.

There are 28 tracks, some as short as 33 seconds, one almost 12 minutes, but most in between and under four minutes. This assures that we cannot become bored, and a wild dance will be followed by an introspective air; a suite for strings will be followed by some lovely wind music; triumphal music or an aria of betrayal will bring forth trumpets and drums. The textures are ravishing as played on period instruments, and the timpanists really know how to thwack.

The performances are splendid, with Christophe Rousset and his great Talens Lyriques at their most lively and lovely, depending on the situation. The accompanying notes are a bit precious but do manage to introduce the listener to not only the specific music, but the forms (passacaille, chaconne). And if you look carefully, you'll note that the dates for Rameau are given as "1683-1784". Quite the revelation. Highly recommended. --Robert Levine

CD INFO

flac, scans

Rameau - Pieces de Clavecin - Christophe Rousset

Rameau - Pieces de Clavecin - Christophe Rousset
Keyboard | Eac, flac, cue | log, cover | 3 CD, 1.28 GB
November 8, 1991 | L'Oiseau-Lyre | RapidShare

There really aren't any serious rivals to this superb, stylish and well understood recording of Jean-Philippe Rameau's harpsichord music. If you're after a recording of Rameau's keyboard music by a performer who understands and enjoys this music, then look no further, Christophe Rousset is your man.

CD Content
Premier livre de pièces de clavecin (1706)
Pièces de clavecin (1724)
Nouvelles suites de pièces de clavecin (1728)
Les petits marteaux de M Rameau
La Dauphine (1747)
# La Coulicam, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Livri, version for harpsichord only (Pieces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Livri, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# Le Vézinet, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Laborde, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Boucon, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# L'Agaçante, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# Premier menuet, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# Deuxième menuet, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# L'Agaçante, version for harpsichord only (Pieces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Lapoplinière, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Timide, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièce de clavecin en concerts)
# Tambourins I and II, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Timide, version for harpsichord only (Pieces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Pantomime, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# L'indiscrète, for harpschord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Rameau, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Forqueray, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Cupis, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# La Marais, for harpsichord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)
# L'indiscrète, for harpschord, violin & viol (Pièces de clavecin en concerts)