Episodes
| Series | Episode | Title | First Broadcast | Comments |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | 01 | The Couperin Clan | 20080602 | Donald Macleod follows the progress of the Couperins from rural life in Chaume-en-Brie to establishment as professional musicians in bustling Paris. Couperin: La Couperin (21st ordre) Michael Borgstede (harpsichord) Louis Couperin (c 1626-1661): Prelude a l'imitation de Monsieur Froberger (Suite de Pieces in A) Asami Hirosawa (harpsichord) Couperin: Ritratto dell'amore (9th Concert) Francois Fernandez (violin) Emmanuel Balssa (bass viol) Elisabeth Joye (harpsichord) Louis Couperin: Suite in D minor Christopher Hogwood (harpsichord). Following the progress of the Couperin family from life in the country to working in Paris |
| 2008 | 02 | Saint-gervais | 20080603 | Donald Macleod looks at the importance to the Couperin family of the church of Saint-Gervais in Paris, where generations of them were employed, beginning in Louis XIV's time with Louis Couperin and ending with Gervais-Francois Couperin's death in 1826. Couperin: Tantum ergo sacramentum Jill Feldman, Isabelle Poulenard (soprano) Jaap ter Linden (bass viol) Davitt Moroney (organ/harpsichord) Louis Couperin: 5 Fantasies (excerpt) Jan Willem Jansen (organ) Couperin: Kyrie (Messe des paroisses) Marie-Claire Alain (organ) Couperin: La Sultanne Francois Fernandez, Luis-Otavio Santos (violin) Emmanuel Balssa, Jerome Hantai (bass viol) Elisabeth Joye (harpsichord) Couperin: 3rd tenebrae for 2 voices Sandrine Piau, Veronique Gens (soprano) Les Talens Lyriques Christophe Rousset (organ) Emmanuel Balssa (bass viol) Armand-Louis Couperin: L'Afflige Sophie Yates (harpsichord). Looking at the importance to the Couperins of the church of Saint Gervais in Paris. |
| 2008 | 03 | Versailles | 20080604 | Donald Macleod explores Couperin's work in the royal court at Versailles, where Louis XIV personally auditioned him for the post of Organist of the Court Chapel. Couperin's keyboard skills soon extended his duties and he taught harpsichord to many of the notable royals surrounding the sovereign, later becoming the court's Teacher and Master of Harpsichord, as well as playing in the King's select chamber concerts. Le point du jour Allemande (22nd ordre) Michael Borgstede (harpsichord) Regina coeli laetare, Alleluia (petit motet) Jill Feldman, Isabelle Poulenard (soprano) Jaap Ter Linden (bass viol) Davitt Moroney (organ) La Raphaele; L'Ausoniene; Allemande; Premiere Courante; Sarabande l'unique; Gigue; Passacaille; La morinete (Livres de clavecin - Eighth ordre) Christophe Rousset (harpsichord) Concert Royaux (Fourth Concert) Robert Claire (transverse flute) Davitt Moroney (harpsichord) Janet See (transverse flute) La Belle Javotte, autrefois l'Infante Exploring Couperin's work at Versailles, where he taught harpsichord to many royals. |
| 2008 | 04 | The French-italian Question | 20080605 | The Italian influence on French music was a subject of great intellectual debate in Couperin's age, and Donald Macleod considers how the composer united the two styles in his music. Couperin: Gigue La Francoise (First Ordre - Les Nations) Quadro Amsterdam Couperin: La Piemontoise (l'Astree) (Fourth Ordre - Les Nations) Marc Roger Normand Couperin: Sarabande Davitt Moroney (harpsichord) Couperin: Usquequo Domine Paul Agnew (countertenor) Les Arts Florissants: Maia Silberstein (violin) Anne-Marie Lasla (viola da gamba) Catherine Girard (violin) William Christie (conductor) Couperin: Les folies francoises, ou les dominos (Thirteenth Ordre - Book 3) Bob van Asperen (harpsichord) Couperin: Les gouts reunis (fourth concert) Ensemble Couperin Thomas Indermuhle (oboe) Henk de Wit (bassoon) Ursula Duetschler (harpsichord) Couperin: Le parnasse or L'apotheose de Corelli English Baroque Soloists John Eliot Gardiner (conductor). Donald Macleod considers how Couperin united both French and Italian styles in his music. |
| 2008 | 05 LAST | Couperin The Dramatist | 20080606 | Donald Macleod sketches a portrait of Couperin from his music and explores the reasons why he never tried his hand at writing stage works. Saillie (27th ordre, 4th book) Christophe Rousset (harpsichord) La Princesse de Chabeuil, ou La muse de Monaco Robert Kohnen (harpsichord) Prelude (L'art de toucher le clavecin) Skip Sempe (harpsichord) Pompe funebre (Pieces for viols - 2nd Suite) Jordi Savall, Ariane Maurette (bass viol) Ton Koopman (harpsichord) Les gouts Reunis: 8th concert (dans le gout theatral) Ensemble Couperin Thomas Indermuhle (oboe) Henk de Wit (bassoon) Ursula Duetschler (harpsichord) Les fastes de la grande et ancienne Mxnxstrxndxsx (11th ordre, 2nd book of harpsichord pieces) Olivier Baumont (harpsichord). A portrait of Couperin from his music, asking why he never attempted writing stage works. |