François Couperin: The Eight Preludes From L'Art de toucher le Clavecin

Here are the eight preludes crowning François Couperin's essential and rightfully famous book, with the 'appetizing' title "L'Art de toucher le Clavecin",

It is a subtle title - hinting more how to 'touch' the instrument - rather than 'just playing' it.

Equally subtle and expressive are these short preludes - concise in form and yet, delightfully free and agreeable - with unending inspiring to young and old!

The book was first published in 1717 - also as a handy 'compendium' to his first two Livres of harpsichord pieces.

I have been wanting to do this video for a long time - to share this breathtakingly beautiful & tender music with you all - and wish for us all to delight in François Couperin's world of non-compromised beauty!

As for the instrument:
This is the FF - g''' double that I built (..from scratch), in Oslo, back in 1971 - in a 'late-Flemish style' - exceedingly inspired by Martin Skowroneck.

For this recording, it was tuned in an agreeable unequal temperament, giving enough room to perifere keys, without unduly compromising the more central. The tuning pitch is 396Hz - where the instrument sounds the most balanced.

As for the video:
Recorded 'at home' on 27th of April 2021 -
with my Leica M240P - with three lenses: a Super-Elmar 21 ASPH, the classic Canon 2,8/28 (LTM) and the truly unique Summilux 35 ASPHERICAL ('AA').

Audio went through a Zoom H6 with it's built in microphone - and was tweaked in Audacity - and all mixed in iMovie on my MacBook Pro.

This video recording pretends, by no means, a broadcast quality - and is also not a 'TV-program' as such - but is an honest sharing of some of the finest music I know!

PS....

[grocheo]

Thank you Maestro for this precious gift. To me this is the most enchanting performance of these little jewels. Thank you very much

[philipkimber]

Heart -rending, yes, and also so heart-warming. How I imagine this music. I know no better understanding of these preludes.

[jean-marcpipet]

Magnifique interprétation sur un instrument splendide !

[JanWeinhold]

Wundervoll! Das Spielen von rechts vor links habe noch nie so delikat und häufig benutzt gehört - sehr anregend. Danke Ketil.

[paulcaswell]

Heartrending at times. Wonderful playing.

[ghmus]

Some of my favorite music as well, and so beautifully played!
Stuff like this truly made the harpsichord what it was!

Many thanks for marvelous birthday present :c).

[youexx]

THIS is what you call "breathing" - such a human, noble, and elevating interpretation on each one. Being French, I've always almost automatically drawn a connection between Edith Piaf's lilting and melodic inspiration and - Couperin. As for KH's playing, you don't get any closer to the summit - this is "illumination".

[luuktorn]

Fantastic! I totally love this music and this performance and instrument fits it perfectly!

[YoItsM]

Very inspiring and beautiful!
I personally really like the quality of the video/audio, it sounds like the instrument is in the room with me -
as opposed to the inorganic and confusing sound one gets from stuffing microphones right inside the instrument, which is seen in most "broadcast quality" videos.

[fnersch]

Beautiful, languid playing which is ideal for the noble and suave French harpsichord. Many years ago I got a recording of your playing Marchand which I still play on a semi regular basis. Thanks for sharing your playing of these preludes.

[Darrigrande]

Muy linda interpretacion de Couperin en un bello instrumento!

[rameau]

Good sound! Can You describe your harpsicord: he sound is deep, sorry for my english. I'm french and try Nex year to learn harpsicord: Couperin is my favorite music

[moon]

It’s such a great video! May I repost your channel to the platform named Gan Jing World which is full of clean and valuable videos? I will keep your videos as is for sure. Thank you!

[chenharry]

which maker is the harpsichord and year?