Customer Reviews

Rameau: Pièces de Clavecin - Christophe Rousset

5 star:		(6)
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Alot of folks salivate over this album; its status is now near-legendary in the early music canon. Perhaps the lovely, fine people at L'Oiseau-Lyre (or whomever now controls the catalogue) will take note and give us fans a re-issue. Of course, it's a little lonely out here on US Amazon for us early music fans, though we are growing fast in number (I'm a recent and devout convert myself). So, this may be a message in a bottle dropped into a big ocean, however, should anyone out there perchance be reading this and know someone who knows someone (maybe even Mr. Rousset himself) they might kindly pass on this request. Merci!

There really aren't any serious rivals to this superb, stylish and well understood recording of Jean-Philippe Rameau's harpsichord music. If you're after a recording of Rameau's keyboard music by a performer who understands and enjoys this music, then look no further, Christophe Rousset is your man.

Well recorded, good instrument, superb and stylish interpretations.

What more could you ask for?

Rameau's music is very rich and original. Les pièces de Clavecins are amazing in their diversity, harmony, and originality.

Christophe Rousset's reading is one of the best (as usual), his delivery is astonishing, giving the difficulty and complexity of the score.

I am certain that many reviewers would describe this recording in better details.

However the bottom-line is: This CD set is indispensable for anyone who loves Rameau, 18th century music, and/or harpsichord.

Finally, I would like to recommend a recording that does not seem to be available at Amazon: Bach's English Suites played by Christophe Rousset.

Rousset uses 2 double manual harpsichords: a Henri Hemsch from 1751 and a modern copy by Sidey and Bal of a Ruckers-Hemsch. Both are beautiful and rich sounding and pitched to A=392 Hz. "La Dauphine" is the only piece played in equal temperament; the 1708 book is played in meantone temperament on the Sidey-Bal and the other 2 books are played in modified meantone temperaments called "Rameau tunings" on the Henri Hemsch.

Every piece is played with rhythmic vitality and copious pleasing ornaments. It is really difficult to imagine a better sounding rendition.

I have avidly acquired all (or very nearly all) of Christophe Rousset's brilliant harpsichord recordings. The range and stylishness of his playing, while always keenly attentive to the rhythmmic inflection and articulation that REALLY make this music "come alive" are extraordinary! This particular recording is a special star in the collection, though! Half of the set is recorded on a scrupulously preserved harpsichord by Henri Hemsch (Paris, 1751) - there just isn't a more "authentic" instrument for this. The other half is on a modern replica of another French harpsichord, also elegant. In the first CD in particular, there's a variation set (sorry, the title escapes me at present) that leaps out and "grabs you." Rameau was one of the major names in the period in French keyboard music, yet he is quite under-represented on recordings. I am baffled that this glorious recording has not been kept in circulation. BUY it, folks! You'll love this! Exciting, ever-engaging playing throughout!

Knowledgeable reviewers raving about these discs know what they are talking about. Rousset's performance is a passionate, exquisitely sensitive, deeply informed tour de force. Happily, this release is currently available at a much more reasonable price on the Archiv website.