Couperin: Le Tic-Toc-Choc, ou Les Maillotins (Jeremy DesChane, piano)

"Le Tic-Toc-Choc, ou Les Maillotins" by Francois Couperin

Recorded at Eastman School of Music
Performer: Jeremy DesChane

This is a "piece croissee," meaning that the hands are crossed over each other so that they play in the same register. On a two manual harpsichord (the instrument for which this piece was originally intended), this is a relatively simple feat, as there is a keyboard for each hand. However, on the modern piano you only have one keyboard, so your fingers can become "tangled!"

An update: Thank you for your positive comments! It's wonderful to think that as of today (August 31, 2011) almost 14,000 people have listened to my performance. A few of you have asked about where to get the music for this piece; I recommend the inexpensive two-volume Dover edition of Couperin's Complete Keyboard Works (Dover 0-486-25796-9 and 0-486-25795-9). Also, I would like to add that this is a piece for harpsichord, so it is a good idea to be familiar with that instrument. There are a couple of Couperin's works which in my opinion are quite effective on the piano (Le Tic-Toc-Choc, or Les Baricades Mysterieuses), but it is also imperative to know Couperin's music through the voices of HIS instruments, the harpsichord and organ. Consider reading "L'art de toucher le clavecin" (The Art of Playing the Harpsichord), a charmingly written yet indispensable guide by Couperin himself. Alfred published an English edition, translated by Margery Halford.

A note of warning: this piece is not easy to play on the piano. I play quite a bit of the advanced repertoire, from Petrouchka and Rachmaninoff's third concerto to Islamey and Gaspard de la nuit. The difficulty of mastering these 2 1/2 minutes of sheer joy is comparable to the difficulty of mastering Feux Follets. It is worth it, though. :)

Category:

Music

Tags:

• piano
• couperin
• tic toc choc
• maillotins
• classical music
• jeremy
• deschane

[7majko7]

complimenti

[mermyguy]

thanks!

[mancklin]

Bravo!

[mmerboy1]

bravo... but what else can we hear by you??? wish you all the best of luck. may the enchanting trio come together for you: right person to the right time and right place!

[XxbambambxX]

wow. you nearly copy sokolov! you play it absolutely amazing ;)

[AndreaSPitaim]

The best is your comprehension of the piece. You are not just playing.. you're delivering it.

[FreddieSausage]

Excellent, Mr Mermy Guy...thank you.

Couperin,Scarlatti,Rameau...su­ch hipsters.

[polianglin]

May I know who played this piece in this video? @@

[oliviertroubat]

vraiment une très belle interprétation : un très très grand bravo ...

[MsPerret]

Amazing!!

(If the cop arrest you one day and put you handcuf,you can still playing!!!;))

Very nice and difficult piece played with talent!!!

[Viscamo]

Bravissimo

[rtomas19]

Please honor us with your "Les Barricades Misterieuses"