- Get $1 in Amazon MP3 credit with qualifying purchase. Limited to one promotional credit per customer. Here's how (restrictions apply)
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
|
||||||||||||||||||
Special Offers and Product Promotions
Frequently Bought Together
Product Details
Would you like to update product info or give feedback on images?
|
Track Listings
Customer Reviews
|
Share your thoughts with other customers:
|
||||||||||||||||||||||
|
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sparkling Couperin Performance,
By Ken (New Haven, CT) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Couperin: 4 Livres de Pièces de Clavecin / Complete Harpsichord Music (Audio CD)
I was never able to buy the complete Couperin keyboard recordings by Christophe Rousset before that set was deleted from the catalog. This 11 CD set by Michael Borgstede was the only set I could find when I ordered it in 2007. I am glad I found it. Borgstede performs this large repertoire without a hint of boredom. He achieves consistency of style without sameness. Generally using a light, filigree and rhythymically lively style that allows the listener to hear distinctly the separate voices in the music (compare his Les Baricades Misterieuses on disc 4 to Blandine Verlet Astree Naive E 3003- also very well done, but denser), he can be weightier; for example disc 6, Les Triomphante, a battle depiction, the relentless advance of the victorious army portrayed by the uncharacteristic instruction for the French: "croches egales" (equal quarter notes).His instrument, a Ruckers replica, is never "jangly" or overly loud and tiring to the ear. Great set and fabulous value.
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
Excellent performance,
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Couperin: 4 Livres de Pièces de Clavecin / Complete Harpsichord Music (Audio CD)
Couperin's keyboard works are really excellent. I find them every bit as exciting as Bach. They have a flavor of their own. I think that the recording quality is excellent. This set has real competition, but that competition is either unavailable, hard to get, or considerably more expensive. I have heard the Kenneth Gilbert, but it is out of print and could cost upwards of $400.00-800.00 used. One copy of the complete Verlet set is currently available used for 600 pound sterling. It is almost unheard of to find one available. Davitt Moroney's set is not complete and practically impossible to find. The incomparable Pierre Hantai has never recorded more than a small number of pieces by anyone other than Bach. His Goldberg Variations on Opus-111 are an incomparable joy to hear. Olivier Baumont's set on Warner is more expensive than the Brilliant Classics, but can be purchased much cheaper in England by email. Try Amazon.UK. Nicole Speith's complete set is quite good, but is very hard to find--almost impossible in the U.S., but can be purchased directly from the manufacturer in France for an attractive price. The always interesting Rousset is also very hard to get and a little eccentric sounding. It is also very expensive. I have seen on set available for around $700.00 or so in used condition.In essence, the Borgstede set on Brilliant Classics is the last set standing in the US with the exception of the Warner set. I like the faster tempos on this set. I agree with the previous reviewer about luxuriating in French baroque harpsichord, but it can get boring after awhile. Borgstede plays this music at a nice pace with a great sense of rhythm. After all, this music can be kind of limited and can get a little dull. This set is really worth getting. Give it a shot.
14 of 19 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A for effort,
By
This review is from: Couperin: 4 Livres de Pièces de Clavecin / Complete Harpsichord Music (Audio CD)
I purchased this because I was not able/willing to play through all several hundred pages of Couperin's harpsichord pieces to find pieces I like. It's a lot easier if someone else does this for you. And the price is right.In general, I found the tempo way too fast in many pieces. This is music from the 17th/18th century born in the lap of royal luxury and wealthy patronage -- it needs to be luxuriated in. It should be played slowly enough so that the delicate nuances that the harpsichord can express are capable of being heard. There is not enough breath in the pieces, it's like a runaway train. Does he have a plane to catch? This often happens with Type-A pros, who forget that ordinary people actually listen to the music and would like to hear the notes. I have had several friends make similar comments. That said, I was able to enjoy this not so much as a player but as a curious listener, and found many pieces I liked and was capable of playing -- in my own way and style of course. That is what is so wonderful about this historical chamber music -- it is so open to interpretation. The harpsichord itself is a classic, but the pickup mike was perhaps too close and left me and the music with a too-bright jangly feeling. The bass seemed weak. I have a Franco-Flemish single manual, 2x8, 8 feet long, and the long strings hum and murmur deeply. A friend said my bass sounded like an idling motor or a cat purring. Yes, certain of the pieces should be played brightly and loudly, with the 4' choir -- if necessary -- but overall I find the registration too heavy. While I don't always like the artist's playing style and some of his interpretation, I think this set of recordings is a classic and well worth the money, and time spent listening. Congratulation to anyone who has mastered all these pieces.
Share your thoughts with other customers: Create your own review
|
|
Tags Customers Associate with This Product(What's this?)Click on a tag to find related items, discussions, and people.
|
Customer Discussions
|
This product's forum
Active discussions in related forums
Search Customer Discussions
|
Related forums
|
