Chambonnieres: Pieces De Clavecin [Import]

Skip Sempe (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 11, 1998)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Format: Import
• Label: Deutsche Harmonia Mundi
• ASIN: B000024F73
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #804,058 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Sempe's noble, sensitive interpretations win the day, April 21, 2004

By 

Phil Rogers (Ann Arbor, Michigan) - See all my reviews

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This review is from: Chambonnieres: Pieces De Clavecin (Audio CD)

Jacques Champion de Chambonniers is known as the father of French clavecinists (harpsichordists) as his large, early collection of 'Pieces de Clavecin' was probably the first to be published, and also because he was the teacher of the three greatest of the next generation: Louis Couperin, Jean-Henri d'Anglebert, and Nicolas Lebegue. Chambonniers 'book' is arranged accorded to key signature, so that all the pieces in the key of C are together in one big suite - the performer gets to pick and choose which allemande in C, for instance, he will use when performing a "Suite in C".

Sempe uses a great many in C (14), 9 in G, 4 in A, 3 in D. His playing is warm, never hard or austere sounding, never too fast. His technique of course is prodigious, and he does a good job in the rhythmic alteration department, including appropriately rolling his chords, and not being overly precise-sounding with the ornamentation.

It brings a good feeling to one's chest/gut area to listen to M. Sempe's playing of Chambonniers.

He finishes off with "Tombeau de Mr. de Chanbonniers" - one of several laments written by 17-century musicians for their teachers, benefactors, etc. This one was written by M. d'Anglebert. Skip plays it tenderly, flowingly, and with ample sadness. Other contemporary harpsichordists have added, for instance, extreme anguish to their palette when interpreting this and other tombeaux. It's quite fascinating what emotional and spiritual richness the various players bring to their interpretations.