The Concerts royaux are a set of four chamber music suites, composed in 1714 by François Couperin (1668-1733) for the court of Louis XIV.
An exuberant Forlane closes the final suite. Introduced to France in 1697, the Forlane originated as a rapid Italian folk dance in 6/8 time. Maurice Ravel may have had this music in mind when he composed the Forlane for the 1917 suite, Le Tombeau de Couperin, a dreamy reflection on Couperin and French music of the distant past.
This performance features flutist Stefanie Kessler and the Gottesauer Ensemble:
Featured Image: “View of the Château de Versailles and the gardens from the Avenue de Paris in 1668,” Pierre Patel
