Louis Couperin Unmeasured Prelude

Skip Sempe, harpsichord.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Skip
• Sempe
• Harpsichord
• unmeasured
• prelude
• Louis
• Couperin

[JosquenD]

Sappiamo con certezza da una trattatistica copiosa che almeno fino a Francois Couperin la diteggiatura praticata era ancora esclusivamente quella che evitava il passaggio del pollice nelle volate. Francois Couperin lo dimostra senza dubbio alcuno nei suoi esempi di diteggiature. Ora mi spiega questo signore esecutore, certamente virtuoso, come all'epoca fosse possibile praticare queste velocità nelle volate col passaggio del terzo dito sul quarto e del terzo dito sul secondo?

[groverpm]

From wikipedia: "Unmeasured or non-measured prelude is a prelude in which the duration of each note is left to the performer. Typically the term is used for 17th century harpsichord compositions that are written without rhythm or metre indications."

How can it be too fast or too slow? I like it.

[LaurensVRC]

I like this interpretation very much! Although some parts I prefer more slowly, most of the fast broken chords sound really well.

[cliveso]

0:12 Direct quotation from Froberger's Toccata Prima?

[VelikyUstyug1]

For me this is not too fast. One could play it myriad different ways. Instead of emphasizing contemplative space here, the performer highlights restless human guile against a backdrop of a mountain stream gushing forth in chilly splendour. An interesting contrast from the normally unbearably staid imitations of Mr. Leonhardt's tired autocratic Arte-Deco view of Baroque performance practice.

[zyxonian]

@cembalaro I think what Deferis means is that it should be played in a toccata style, so it should contain a feeling of improvisation.

[derefis]

@cembalaro this is supposed to be an improvisation.

[cembalaro]

Skip - this is way too fast!!

Have you ever played the Froberger piece that Couperin imitates - the Plainte.....? Fort lentement et avec discretion..!

But I really enjoy the beautiful - singing quality of your playing - when you take time!!

[bwanna23]

Way to go, Skip!