French Organ Music in the Reign of Louis XIV

A radical new approach to French Baroque organ music in which developments in musical style are coupled to performance practice.

David Ponsford (Author)

9781316620748, Cambridge University Press

Paperback / softback, published 1 September 2016

342 pages, 15 b/w illus. 1 table 336 music examples
24.4 x 17 x 1.8 cm, 0.54 kg

'An invaluable aid to understanding and appreciating its subject.' Early Music

Presenting a fresh approach to French organ music, David Ponsford analyses the repertory from the reign of Louis XIV by genre. The colourful French organ was so consistent in design that the very titles of pieces that were constituent parts of organ masses, Magnificats and suites prescribed the registrations: plein jeu, fugue, duo, récit, trio, fond d'orgue and grand jeu. Particular examples from published livres d'orgue and important manuscript collections are analysed chronologically, so that influences from Italian as well as French sacred and secular music can be traced. This analysis reveals the dynamic development of compositional styles in which each composer developed, modified or reacted against the exemplars of his predecessors. Composers discussed include Louis Couperin, François Couperin, Raison, Clérambault and Marchand. The reader will gain an enhanced understanding of performance practices such as notes inégales, fingering and ornamentation, and the influence of French composers on J. S. Bach.

1. Introduction
2. Genre
3. The conventions of notes inégales
4. Ornaments
5. Fingering
6. The influence of Italian music
7. Plein jeu
8. Fugue
9. Duo
10. Récit de dessus
11. Récit en taille
12. Récit de basse
13. Trio
14. Fond d'orgue
15. Grand jeu.

Subject Areas: Keyboard instruments [AVRG], Baroque music [c 1600 to c 1750 AVGC3]