Composer

:

Armand-Louis Couperin

Genre

:

Keyboard

Style

:

Keyboard

Compose Date

:

1751

Average_duration

:

5:32

Armand-Louis Couperin was a French Baroque composer and harpsichordist who lived from 1727 to 1789. He was a member of the famous Couperin family of musicians, which included his uncle François Couperin, known as "Couperin le Grand." Armand-Louis Couperin was a prolific composer, and his works include keyboard music, chamber music, and vocal music. One of his most famous works is "L'Affligée," which is a keyboard piece for harpsichord. It was composed in the mid-18th century, although the exact date is not known. The piece is in the key of D minor and is in binary form, with two sections that are each repeated. The premiere of "L'Affligée" is not known, but it was likely performed in the salons of Parisian aristocrats, where Couperin was a frequent performer. The piece was published in Couperin's "Pièces de clavecin" in 1753, which was a collection of his keyboard music. "L'Affligée" is a slow and mournful piece, which is reflected in its title, which means "The Afflicted One." The piece is characterized by its use of dissonance and chromaticism, which create a sense of tension and sadness. The left hand plays a repeating pattern of broken chords, while the right hand plays a melody that is full of expressive ornamentation. The piece is divided into two sections, each of which is repeated. The first section is in D minor and is marked "Lentement" (slowly). The second section is in D major and is marked "Plus vite" (faster). The second section is more lively than the first, but it still retains a sense of melancholy. Overall, "L'Affligée" is a beautiful and haunting piece of music that showcases Couperin's skill as a composer and his ability to convey emotion through music. It remains a popular piece for harpsichordists and is often performed in recitals and concerts.

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