Jordi Savall & Hesperion XX - Couperin - Les Nations, 1726 (1986) [2CD]
EAC rip (secure mode) | FLAC (tracks)+CUE+LOG -> 630 Mb 
Full Artwork @ 300 dpi (jpg) -> 47 Mb


Original released by Auvidis France in 1986. This reissue released by Auvidis-Naïve in 2000 (ES 9956). Couperin places himself between the Italian and French musical styles of his day to create something rather greater than either. For the most part early works, these sonatas with dance suites combine the style of Lully and Louis XIV's court with Corelli's brilliance: the result is a Grand Tour of the high Baroque, given, s'il vous plait, with a French accent. Savall's rendition, true to form, is dark, elegant, and supple. He assigns the trio-sonata texture to differing combinations of violins, oboes, and traversi, all with a large and inspired continuo group. Performers: Monica Huggett, Chiara Banchini, Ton Koopman, Hopkinson Smith, Stephen Preston, Ku Ebbinge &c. Highly recommended.

Couperin’s four dance suites of Les nations were published in 1726. Each is prefaced with an Italianate trio sonata whose music, for three of them, derives from sonatas which Couperin wrote during the 1690s. The fourth, introducing ‘L’impériale’, is a more fluently mature piece which he probably composed much later on. If the introductory ‘Sonades’, as Couperin called them, are Italian in their idiom, then the appended dances are characteristically and unmistakeably French. Jordi Savall brings the music to life with mediterranean warmth and an intuitive feeling for dance rhythms and their individual gestures. This remains far the most satisfying version of Les nations. Between 1686 and 1725 Couperin’s contemporary Marin Marais published five collections of pieces for one, two and three bass viols with continuo. The pieces, derived mainly from the French dance tradition, are of enormous charm and embrace a rich expressive range. This disc features three dance suites from Marais’s Third and perhaps most impressive collection. The performances by Savall and his excellent continuo players are very fine indeed.

CD1
01 - La Francoise - I. Sonade
02 - La Francoise - II. Allemande
03 - La Francoise - III. Premiere Courante
04 - La Francoise - IV. Seconde Courante
05 - La Francoise - V. Sarabande
06 - La Francoise - VI. Gigue
07 - La Francoise - VII. Chaconne ou Passacaille
08 - La Francoise - VIII. Gavotte
09 - La Francoise - IX. Menuet
10 - L'espagnole - I. Sonade
11 - L'Espagnole - II. Allemande
12 - L'Espagnole - III. Courante
13 - L'Espagnole - IV. Seconde courante
14 - L'Espagnole - V. Sarabande
15 - L'Espagnole - VI. Gigue Louree
16 - L'Espagnole - VII. Gavotte
17 - L'Espagnole - VIII. Rondeau
18 - L'Espagnole - IX. Bouree. Double de la Bouree precedente
19 - L'Espagnole - X. Passacaille


CD2
01 - L'Imperiale - I. Sonade
02 - L'Imperiale - II. Allemande
03 - L'Imperiale - III. Courante
04 - L'Imperiale - IV. Seconde Courante
05 - L'Imperiale - V. Sarabande
06 - L'Imperiale - VI. Bouree
07 - L'Imperiale - VII. Gigue
08 - L'Imperiale - VIII. Rondeau
09 - L'Imperiale - IX. Chaconne
10 - L'Imperiale - X. Menuet
11 - La Piemontoise - I. Sonade
12 - La Piemontoise - II. Allemande
13 - La Piemontoise - III. Courante
14 - La Piemontoise - IV. Seconde Courante
15 - La Piemontoise - V. Sarabande
16 - La Piemontoise - VI. Rondeau
17 - La Piemontoise - VII. Gigue

*1986, 2000 Auvidis France / Naïve / Astrée | ES 9956

Personnel:
Ensemble: Hesperion XX
Director: Jordi Savall


Enjoy and Sharing, Thanks!