François Couperin (1668-1733) - Les Baricades Mistérieuses | Miguel Serdoura, 11c Baroque lute

* Les Baricades Mistérieuses * Miguel Serdoura, 11c Baroque lute Brilliant Classics 93701 (April 2008) About this release Paris in the early 18th century was shaking off the strict regime of the Sun King Louis XIV. All of the moral codes and laws associated with the latter years of his reign were cast aside, much to the joy of Parisians - especially the artistic fraternity. Artists from all over Europe flocked to the city to take advantage of the new easy going regime of the regent Duke of Orleans - the heir, Louis XV being too young to rule. The ’French School’ of music flourished, and the leading light among composers was François Couperin, the newly appointed harpsichordist to the Royal Chamber. One of the works composed at this time was his ’Second Book for the Harpsichord’. It included a rondo with the enigmatic title ’Les Baricades Mistérieuses’, based closely on a lute piece by Ennemond Gaultier ’La Cascade’. The in