Couperin A.-L. Complete Keyboard Works

Boston: Martin Pearlman, 2010. — 395 p. With bookmarks.
Editor: Martin Pearlman. Typeset by Homer SeywerdFrom the editor: The present edition of Armand-Louis Couperin's keyboard music is, I believe, the first complete edition of his music for one and two keyboard instruments and the first critical edition. His music for two harpsichords, the first major French works for that combination, is represented here not only by the Simphonie and the second Quatuor but also by his two other Quatuors which were lacking their second harpsichord parts and which I have completed. For all those reasons, it seemed worthwhile to complete this edition and make it available to the public.
The edition is based on work that I began back in the 1970s. At that time, I recorded some of Armand-Louis Couperin's music, made an edition of much of it, and began writing second harpsichord parts for the two duo pieces that are lacking them. I also undertook a good deal of research on the composer and his music, during which I discovered that the seven surviving copies of the Pièces de clavecin were not identical, as had been thought, but represented three different printings which incorporated corrections. At that time, a publisher was interested in having me complete the project, but, getting busy with conducting Boston Baroque and other work, I left the project incomplete.
More than 30 years later... I revised and completed the edition, completed the newly composed second harpsichord parts to the first and third Quatuors, and wrote the prefatory material.
...
Why an interest in Armand-Louis Couperin? Beyond the intrinsic value of a good deal of his music, he is of special interest for his role in the illustrious Couperin family, a musical dynasty which held the organ post at the church of St-Gervais for 173 years and which played a long and important role in the musical life of Paris. Armand-Louis was the most significant musician in that family following the death of his famous relative François, and his career extended up to the eve of the French Revolution. It was a period in which the piano gradually took over from the harpsichord and one in which the harpsichord itself underwent fascinating innovations in an effort to compete. Couperin's late works, particularly his duo harpsichord pieces, reflect all these changes and give us a rare musical record of the transitional instruments of his time.From Wikipedia: Armand-Louis Couperin (1727–1789) was a French composer, organist, and harpsichordist of the late Baroque and early Classical periods. He was a member of the Couperin family of musicians, of which the most notable were his great-uncle Louis and his cousin François.From brilliantclassics.com: Armand-Louis Couperin was a notable French composer, organist, and harpsichordist of the late Baroque and early Classical period. He was a member of the Couperin family of musicians, of which the most famous were his great uncle Louis and his cousin François. He was born in Paris and was raised by his father, Nicolas, also a composer and the successor to François "Le Grand" as organist at Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais Church in 1748, a post Armand-Louis inherited after his father’s death. Subsequent posts included the Notre Dame (from 1755), the Sainte Chapelle (from 1760), L’église Sainte-Marguerite, and the royal chapel (from 1770) Armand-Louis Couperin was one of the last great harpsichord composers of France, and he remained attached stylistically to la grande tradition française. His works show a bold harmonic language, a remarkable degree of improvisational impulse and a tendency to explore new ways of using the instrumentIntroduction and acknowledgements
Genealogical table
Life of Armand-Louis Couperin
Couperin's keyboard instruments
Performance issues
Double bars and repeats
Abbreviations
Appoggiaturas
OrnamentsEditorial policy
Description of sources
Critical notes
Portraits and facsimiles
Pièces de clavecin (1751)
La Victoire
Allemande
Courante. La de Croissy
Les Cacqueteuses
La Grégoire
l'Intrépide
Menuets 1 & 2
l'Arlequine ou la Adam
La Blanchet
La de Boisgelou
La Foucquet
La Semillante ou la Joly
La Turpin
Gavottes 1 & 2
Menuets 1 & 2
La du Breüil
La Chéron
l'Affligée
l'Enjouée
Les Tendres Sentimens
Rondeau
Les Quatre Nations
l'Italienne
l'Angloise
l'Allemand
La Françoise
Other pieces for solo keyboard instruments
Variations de Mr. Couperin [Air, vous l'ordonnez]
Dialogue [pour l'orgue] entre le Chalumeau et le Basson avec accompagnemt. de flûtes au clavier d'en haut (1775)
La chasse
Aria con variazione del Sr. Couperin (1781)
Air de Richard Coeur de Lion (variations on air by Grétry) (1784)
Works for two harpsichords (c. 1772-74)
Première Quatuor (1772) [Reconstruction: 2nd harpsichord part by Martin Pearlman]
Deuxième Quatuor a deux clavecins
Troisième Quatuor [Reconstruction: 2nd harpsichord part by Martin Pearlman]
Simphonie à 2 clavecins
Appendix I-Part for Harpsichord I
Première Quatuor
Deuxième Quatuor
Troisième Quatuor
Simphonie de clavecins
Appendix II-Part for Harpsichord II
Première Quatuor
Deuxième Quatuor
Troisième Quatuor
Simphonie de clavecins