Christophe Bois

L'Art du Clavecin

The pre-classical era closed in a blaze of glory, marked by a group of illustrious composers including Jean-Philippe Rameau, François Couperin and Domenico Scarlatti, not forgetting Handel and Bach. In the early 18th century, styles began to change. Couperin was particularly gifted in melody and underlined poetic emotion with charm and depth. In general he wrote for two voices, using a fairly restrained range in which both hands are close together on the keyboard. Scarlatti is considered as one of the finest and most pianistic composers in the history of music, and wrote an abundance of transparent sounds with great virtuosity. Rameau on the other hand was incisive and impetuous, and within a framework of free rhythms he would write wide stretches of as much as a 13th. His music often goes beyond what was normally demanded of the harpsichord. Al! these arrangements for two saxophones at equal pitch allow today's students to tackle a wealth of music far removed from their usual world. Ornaments too can be studied, notably in the pieces by Couperin and Rameau, although the dynamics and articulations are editorial suggestions only. The album is suitable for intermediate to advanced players.