If you enjoy tuneful music played on superb instruments by a virtuoso performer, this set is for you! The music comes from the France of 1740-1860 - the
Revolution came almost exactly in the middle of the period. The composers, famous in their day, were forgotten as tastes changed. Gervais-François
Couperin is one member of the family who seems to have escaped the reference books.
Nicolas Gorenstein demonstrates what a loss this has been. The pieces vary in style from the reflective to the exuberant - some started life as
extemporisations. What they have in common is continuous melodic inventiveness usually within a tight rhythmic framework. It is not hard to imagine many
of the tunes being whistled in the streets of Paris. Surely early influences on Lefébure-Wély may be heard in places.?
The four organs used were chosen for authenticity. One narrowly escaped destruction at the time of the revolution - its tale is one of many gems in the
accompanying booklet - with full English translation. Another instrument is an early Cavaillé-Coll, dating from days when he was much influenced by
earlier builders. There is also a modern organ in the old style and another restored to original condition after various "modernisations" over the years.
All four have great "presence" and speak with delightful clarity.
The immense variety of tone colour available in these older instruments comes as a surprise and surely surpasses that of other schools at that period?
Here, composers (and organist) use it to the full.
Composing and playing are always hard work. Here both are suffused by that most French characteristic joie de vivre. You don't have to be French to
experience it when listening to these discs.
