French 1

Piano Literature
MUSC 5325
Dr. Korevaar

Froberger:

Johann Jacob Froberger: Toccata No. 9
Canzon No. 2
Suite No. 30

Reading:
Silbiger: 183-190.

French Keyboard Music of the later 17th Century

Reading:
Silbiger: 118-146

Listening:
Louis Couperin (c. 1626-1661)
Prelude "à l'imitation de Mr. Froberger" (disc 4814, side 1, cut 1, first piece; facsimiles: in "The Art of the Unmeasured Prelude" M21 A67 991 v. 1, pp. 17-23 and 50-55; transcription into modern notation: v. 2, pp. 21-27). Look at the notation in the facsimiles: what clefs do the copyists use? What sources are these two mss from? What is the problem of constructing "suites" of pieces by Louis Couperin?

Jean-Henry d'Anglebert (1629-1691)
First Suite
Variations sur les Folies d'Espagne (facsimile: M22 A64 P52 1704a pp. 48-55; recording: CD 10070, disc 1, track 28). Where in the facsimile do you find d'Anglebert's table of ornaments?

French Keyboard Music of the early 18th Century

Reading:
Marshall: pp. 1-17 (Laurence Libin's fine article on keyboard instruments), 124-153 (Mark Kroll's first-rate article on French Harpsichord music)

Listening:

François Couperin ("Le grand"; Louis' nephew; 1668-1733):
        Le Tic-Toc-Choc ou les Maillotins (M24 C85 P523, p. 82)
        Les folies françoises, ou les dominos (pp. 8-15)
        Les barricades mystérieuses (M24 C85 P522, p. 10) (All selections are on CD17604)

Read the preface to this volume (it's in English - look for it) as well as the table of ornaments.

Jean Philippe Rameau (1683-1764): It's worth reading the Preface, pp. XV-XVIII and Rameau's essay on playing the harpsichord, pp. 16-21 in M22 R35 1966. Examine the table of ornaments as well.

        Musette en rondeau (M22 R35 1966, pp. 32-33)
        La Poule (pp. 84-87)
        L'Enharmonique (pp. 92-94) (All selections on CD 14414)

Questions to think about as you listen and read:
** Compare the Rameau Prelude (in score!) to the Louis Couperin Prelude Marshall: pp. 1-17 (Laurence Libin's fine article on keyboard instruments), 124-153 (Mark Kroll's first-rate article on French Harpsichord music), 154-190 (Scarlatti).

Listening (these pieces are all pretty short, so try to get through them!):

Read the preface to this volume (it's in English - look for it) as well as the table of ornaments.

Questions to think about as you listen and read:
** Compare the Rameau Prelude (in score!) to the Louis Couperin Prelude we looked at. Rameau's is one of the last of this kind, while L. Couperin's is from the heyday
of such compositions. How do they differ in sound, affect, and style?
** Can you imagine hearing or performing any of these pieces on the piano? If so, which ones and why?
** Note that François Couperin and Rameau wrote dance pieces as well as "character" pieces. Do you think the character pieces are related to the dance
pieces in some way?
** How are François Couperin's works arranged in the volumes of his works? How should they be performed?