SKU: UT.HS-307

ISBN 9790215327146. 9 x 12 inches.

Antonio Valente blind, Neapolitan since a long time according to the list of Neapolitan musicians by Scipione Cerreto and organist in S. Angelo a Nilo in Naples, is known in modern times for his two volumes of keyboard music: Versi spirituali published in 1580 and, some years before, the volume here in transcription, Intavolatura de cimbalo, printed by Giuseppe Cacchio in 1576.
This volume has many original features: first keyboard tablature ever printed in Naples, itâ??s not written in musical characters but in a number-based system never met, according to the current studies, in any other print or manuscript both in and outside Italy. The dedication letter, written by Fraâ?? Alberto Mazza, praises Valente as the inventor of this writing method, so easy and effective that everybody, even uncouth youths that did not know music and keyboard, could attain the result of playing from it in two months.
The Intavolatura presents different genres of music: a fantasia, six ricercatas, a Salve Regina on a cantus firmus, four vocal chansons intabulated for keyboard with more or less diminutions,and nine dances, variations and dance/variations on long-living tenors like Romanesca or Zefiro. There are no liturgical compositions, both because unsuitable in a collection for amateurs and because Valente will publish a new book of sacred music in a few years.
The book is a sort of compendium of the keyboard genres of the period, similar to some older Spanish publications and to the later Neapolitan ones by Trabaci and Majone. Other contemporary volumes on the contrary choose to present a single type of composition: this is the case of the Versetti by Valente and the Ricercate by Rocco Rodio.

SKU: HL.14012557

Danish.

Per Norgard GEMINI RISING for harpsichord soloFirst there is a mountain, then there is no mountain, then there isThe title literally Ascending Twins - was borrowed from astrological terminology but refers, purely musically, to two essential circumnstances in the work: A constant duplicity in the melodic basis, as well as an almost constantly ascending tendency. Even when - as is the case in the start - falling figures appear, the combination of several such figures produces an ascending impression. GEMINI RISING was composed for Elisabeth Chojnacka and premiered at a concert in Copenhagen in November 1990.Per Norgard.

SKU: BT.ALHE33874

French.

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 passionfor the instrument has been further apparent in his production of Apprendre 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 Toucher le Clavecin, volume 1 being the first of two helpful volumes to aid student's learning andprogression, 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 stylesuited to the Harpsichord. Furthermore, Apprendre 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.

SKU: BT.ALHE32440

English.

Jean-Henri d'Anglebert (1629-1691) was one of the foremost composers of Keyboard music of his day. Therefore, the collection of his works, Pieces for Harpsichord is essential to all players of early Baroque Keyboard music. D'Anglebert's Pieces for Harpsichord represents some of the finest achievements of the French Harpsichord school and shows the composer's mastery of counterpoint as well as his ability to experiment with texture to achieveorchestral sonority. Moreover, d'Anglebert's collection contains a table of ornaments which formed the basis of those of J. S. Bach and other significant composers. The first volume of Pieces for Harpsichord comprises fourHarpsichord Suites composed by d'Anglebert, each of which consist of the usual dance movements together with transcriptions from Lully's operas. Furthermore, the three unmeasured preludes included in Suites one, two and three aretruly remarkable examples of their kind. With a descriptive preface in French, English and German, volume one of d'Anglebert's Pieces for Harpsichord is a sublime addition to the repertoire of early Baroque Keyboard music.

SKU: HL.48188013

UPC: 888680908263. 9.0x12.0x0.499 inches.

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. Francois 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 Les Plaisirs de Saint Germain en Laye (The Pleasures of Saint Germain en Laye). 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..

SKU: HL.48188014

UPC: 888680844363. 9.0x12.0x0.39 inches.

â??Harpsichord work - Volume 4, LP.24 by Francois Couperin is the fourth in a series of 4 volumes of suites for Harpsichord. Published in 1930, three years before Couperin?s death, when he was very ill, this volume initially presented some small mistakes and some white pages. It features seven Ordres, from the 20th to the 27th, with a total of 43 pieces. For upper-intermediate players, this volume was edited by Kenneth Gilbert. François Couperin was a very famous French composer who played the Harpsichord, the Organ. Coming from a famous family of musicians, he was nicknamed ?Couperin le Grand? (â?â??Couperin the Greatâ?â??).â?.