Album: Francois Couperin, Portrait d'Iris (Paraty)

Portrait d'Iris is named after the Watteau painting on the cover, a portrait of a young girl who embodies the qualities of graceful lightness and polite exuberance found in these early 18th-century pieces for viola da gamba and harpsichord by François Couperin, a friend and contemporary of Bach.

The exuberance isn't immediately noticeable in the 2nd Suite de Viole, which has a stately solemnity until the final movement "La Chemise Blanche" profits from the sprightly harpsichord. The solo harpsichord Pièces de Clavecin likewise proceeds in orderly fashion through movements of 1st, 2nd and 5th order, culminating in the satisfying 6th order rondo "Les Baricades Mysterieuses".

DOWNLOAD THIS Les Baricades Mysterieuses; Pompe Funèbre; La Chemise Blanche