Par SIEGEL RICHARD. Richard Siegel won prizes for the Harpsichord and Chamber Music at the Paris Conservatoire before going on the win first prize in the 1977 International Harpsichord Competition. He has since recorded over 30 CDs and his passion for the instrument has been further apparent in his production of Apprendre à Toucher le Clavecin. As stated in the preface, the study of the Harpsichord has long been reserved, frequently dismissed as an 'old-fashioned' instrument. However, a recent rise in the popularity of early music has rekindled interest in the Harpsichord. In Apprendre à Toucher le Clavecin, volume 1 beingthe first of two helpful volumes to aid student's learning and progression, Siegel enables Harpsichord beginners to learn through repertoire pieces themselves, drawn from the Keyboard masters of the Baroque period. The pupil will be guided towards an understanding of technique and style suited to the Harpsichord. Furthermore, Apprendre à Toucher le Clavecin, which is accompanied by a CD, enables adults who learnt the instrument as a child to return to the instrument and have the instant feeling of making music./ Méthode / Clavecin

This edition of Harpsichord Work by Antoine Forqueray has been reviewed and edited by Colin Tilney. Dedicated to “Madame la Dauphine” (i.e. The King’s daughter here the daughter of Louis XV) this volume includes six suites for a total of 32 pieces. Each of these pieces is actually named after the Courtesans of the Dauphine. With different degrees of complexity these pieces would fit the skills of players with an upper intermediate level and above. The mark-ups in this edition are quite close to those used on Rameau his pieces being popular and well commented. AntoineForqueray was a harpsichordist under the King Louis XV period. Professor of the Dauphine Henriette-Anne he dedicated this piece to her.

Essercizi per gravicembalo - A cura di M. Moiraghi (supervisione E. Fadini). The 10th volume of Domenico Scarlatti?s Sonate per clavicembalo represents a crucial landmark of this series, i.e. the thirty Essercizi per gravicembalo (London, 1738-39) at the heart of the composer?s production. For a long time, the style of these sonatas and their role in the history of keyboard music has been debated. But nobody had ever examined thoroughly the key aspects of textual criticism, intended not only as a detailed reconstruction of the text, but as a philological study with a full scope. This volume is the first step in such direction. The musical text of this edition is the result of a systematic comparison of all the eighteenth century printed and manuscript sources preserving Scarlatti?s treasured Essercizi. In some cases, the edition presents an alternative version of the same sonata, based on the sources? examination and sometimes showing an intricate web of authorial variants. The detailed Critical Notes take into account all the variants handed down by the sources. Many topics are discussed in the rich Introduction, first and foremost the historical context and the genesis of Scarlatti?s sonatas. Furthermore, other important topics are investigated, such as: the relationship between the Essercizi and the rival Londonese edition by Roseingrave: the role and chronology of the contemporary French editions, known under the name of Boivin: the early interventions of anonymous performers.

This suite has been conceived as an imaginary ballet in five movements: Rondo, Aria, Capriccio, Recitativo and Toccata. It features driving rhythms, percussive effects and expressive harmonic motifs. / Clavecin

antologia dall'edizione critica di Emilia Fadini-This Anthology offers a wide selection of Sonatas by Domenico Scarlatti taken from the complete critical edition edited by Emilia Fadini for Casa Ricordi since 1978.The sonatas have been chosen according to their level of difficulty (from Easy-Intermediate to Intermediate) and in some cases their popularity with performers.The anthology furthermore represents a vast choice of the genres and styles present in the complete corpus of Scarlatti???s sonatas (Capricci Gavottes Menuets Fugues).A valuable opportunity for every keyboard player to approach the work of this great composer.

The first volume of Couperin's Harpsichord Pieces does not contain a date of publication however it is thought to have been composed during 1716-1717 due to the address which the composer gave on his other Harpsichord compositions. Yet the compilation remains a favourite. François Couperin (1668-1733) is often nicknamed 'Couperin the Great' to distinguish him from other members of the musical family. Many of the composer's works have picturesque titles. Examples of this in his first volume of Pieces for Harpsichord include Les Papillons (The Butterflies) L'Enchanteresse (The Enchanting) and LesPlaisirs de Saint Germain en Laÿe (The Pleasures of Saint Germain en Laÿe). Couperin's moods are expressed through choices of keys adventurous harmonies and discords. With a significant amount of variation and inspiration Pieces for Harpsichord is essential to the repertoire of aspiring players of the instrument.

Collection Le Pupitre (LP23) The third volume of Couperin's Pieces for Harpsichord does not contain a date of publication, however it is thought to have been composed during 1716-1717, due to the address which the composer gave on his other Harpsichord compositions. Yet, the compilation remains a favourite. François Couperin (1668-1733) is often nicknamed 'Couperin the Great' to distinguish him from other members of the musical family. Many of the composer's works have picturesque titles. Examples of this in his third volume of Pieces for Harpsichord include, La Langueur (Languor), Le Petit-Rien (The Little-Nothing) and L'Artiste (The Artist). Couperin's moods are expressed through choices of keys, adventurous harmonies and discords. With a significant amount of variation and inspiration, these Pieces for Harpsichord are essential to the repertoire of aspiring players of the instrument.

The second volume of Couperin's Pieces for Harpsichord does not contain a date of publication however it is thought to have been composed during 1716-1717 due to the address which the composer gave on his other Harpsichord compositions. Yet the compilation remains a favourite. François Couperin (1668-1733) is often nicknamed 'Couperin the Great' to distinguish him from other members of the musical family. Many of the composer's works have picturesque titles. Examples of this in his second volume of Pieces for Harpsichord include Le Moucheron (The Gnat) L'Adolescente (The Teenager) and La Fringante(The Elegant). Couperin's moods are expressed through choices of keys adventurous harmonies and discords. With a significant amount of variation and inspiration Pieces for Harpsichord are essential to the repertoire of aspiring players of the instrument.

Version 2010-“Books talk to each other” - Umberto Eco’s statement could just as easily apply to music as Les Citations for Oboe Harpsichord Double Bass and Percussion by Henri Dutilleux (1916-2013) brilliantly proves. Written in 1991 the score was reworked by the composer for the Festival d’Auvers-sur-Oise where the new version premiered in June 2010. The origin of this work goes back to For Aldeburgh 85. Written for the 75th birthday of singer Peter Pears the piece takes up a fragment of Peter Grimes whose leading role had been written by Britten for the beloved tenor. Dutilleux adds a page titled FromJanequin to Jehan Alain in which appears a song from the Renaissance composer “L’espoir que j’ay d’acquerir vostre grace” used by J. Alain in his Variations for Organ on a theme by Clément Janequin. The junction between the two parties is made through an Interlude that introduces the “wolf’s moan” theme from the ballet Le Loup (The Wolf) composed by Dutilleux in 1953 for the troupe of Roland Petit. This subtle tangle of quotations forms a shimmering and sensual work where the uniqueness of an authentic artist powerfully asserts itself.