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Les Barricades Mystérieuses

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101: 241: 196:, likens the piece to a train. This clearly cannot have been the precise image Couperin was trying to convey, but it is easy to hear in Les Barricades the image of a heavy but fast-moving object that picks up momentum. In that sense, the mysterious barricades are perhaps those which cause the "train" to slow down and sometimes stop... This hypothesis seems to fit in with the pedagogical aims of Couperin's music, since the composer presents himself as something of a specialist in building sound through legato, 711: 626: 1311: 1337: 1349: 758:
1990: mentioned in Paul Auster's The Music of Chance. The protagonist Jim Nashe feels compelled to play this work because it reminds him of the wall he is building. Wondering about the meaning of the tile, Nashe states that "s far as he was concerned, the barricades stood for the wall he was building
303:"We should think about the example Couperin's harpsichord works set us: they are marvelous models of grace and innocence long past. Nothing could ever make us forget the subtly voluptuous perfume, so delicately perverse, that so innocently hovers over the 232:
referring simultaneously to feminine virginity and the suspensions harmonic of the music, lute figurations are imitated to produce an enigmatic stalemate", as Judith Robison Kipnis explained the work's title and its interpretation by her husband
88:"The four parts create an ever-changing tapestry of melody and harmony, interacting and overlapping with different rhythmic schemes and melodies. The effect is shimmering, kaleidoscopic and seductive, a sonic 144:
There has been much speculation on the meaning of the phrase "mysterious barricades", but no direct evidence appears to be available. The harpsichordist Pascal Tufféry has suggested that, in keeping with the
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1922: The Worm Ourobouros. ER. Eddison. Early in this fantasy novel the protagonist and his wife, hearing their daughter play this piece, comment to each other that only they know the true meaning of the
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stérieuses' . All four possible spelling combinations have since been used with "double r" and a "y" being the most common. The intended meaning of the phrase has remained an enigma (an example of how
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suggested that her vocal and visual arrangement of the piece, where the notes in the different voices rest on one another like barrels, may explain the imagery of barricades.
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1999 "Les Baricades Fantasques" is the second movement of a suite of three harpsichord pieces paying homage to Scarlatti, Couperin, and Bach, by American composer
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The piece has been used as a source of inspiration across different artistic fields including music, visual arts and literature.
177:). Some of the less likely interpretations of the "mysterious barricades" proposed over the years – sometimes in relation to the 972: 1384: 1374: 1062: 178: 1246: 184:
A plausible attempt to link the title to features of the music itself has been provided by the harpsichordist Luke Arnason:
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Igor Kipnis, French Baroque Music for Harpsichord, EPIC LP cat.no. BC1289, 1964, Library of Congress r64001444 Permalink
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arrangement for flute, oboe, clarinet, violin, viola, and cello titled "Les Barricades mystérieuses", the fourth of nine
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2010 piece for oboe, horn, violin, viola, cello and harpsichord titled "The Mysterious Barricades" by Korean composer
154: 1202: 366:, a piece for women's chorus, piccolo, bassoon, harpsichord and clapping titled "Les Barricades Mysteriéuses" by 269: 1265: 1040:(François Couperin and the French Classical Tradition, new version, London, Faber and Faber, 1987, pp. 400–2). 883: 850: 814: 509: 501:
Mid-1990s solo percussion and electronic piece titled "Mysterious Barricades" on the album of the same name by
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While the title reflects the musical structure, there may be more at play. The suggestion of barricades is "a
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of the day in France). In this view, the "mysterious" epithet could allude to the significance of wine in the
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http://catalog2.loc.gov/vwebv/holdingsInfo?searchId=207082&recCount=25&recPointer=3&bibId=9856129
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2001 "Girándula" for 4 corni di bassetto or 4 bass clarinets, based on "Les Barricades mystérieuses", by
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a "technical joke...the continuous suspensions in the lute style being a barricade to the basic harmony".
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2007 "decomposition and performance" for piano titled "Les Barricades" Canadian performance artist
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rendition titled "Variations on Couperin's Rondeau ("Les Barricades mystérieuses")" on the album
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in the meadow, but that was quite another thing from knowing what they meant." (chapter 8)
385:, one movement of which is titled "Les Barricades mystérieuses", by British jazz composer 29: 8: 987: 835: 552:
2003 piece for drums, voice and instruments titled "Through the Mysterious Barricade" by
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1973 harpsichord piece titled "Barricades (Rock piece after Couperin)" on the album
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of the 17th century - include women’s eyelashes, underwear and even chastity belts.
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Debussy on Music: The Critical Writings of the Great French Composer Claude Debussy
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arrangement for clarinet, bass clarinet, viola, cello and double bass in the album
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2009 electronic piece titled "Les Barricades Mystérieuses" by Portuguese composer
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The mirror of human life': Reflections on François Couperin's Pièces de Clavecin
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1990 a harpsichord concerto titled "Mysterious Barricades" commissioned by the
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1994 piece for solo guitar titled "Mysterious Habitats" by Serbian guitarist
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piece titled "Mysterious Barricades" on the album of the same name by former
138: 55: 1128:. A comprehensive listing of references in other works including recordings. 1353: 905: 769: 418: 41: 424:
1989 work for flute and orchestra called "Les Barricades Mystérieuses" by
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playing...Moreover, it seems to form a set with the following piece,
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Couperin: Le musicien des rois (Couperin: The musician of kings)
216:) to build sound without seeming mechanical or repetitive. Both 1027:
by Jane Clark and Derek Connon (Redcroft, King's Music, 2002),
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1989 piece for three recorders called "Les Barricades" by
901:"Solving François Couperin's Les Barricades Mystérieuses" 573:
2009 music video "Les Barricades Mystérieuses" by French
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Other suggested intended meanings for the title include:
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Audio playback is not supported in your browser. You can
512:, "Las Barricadas Misteriosas" is the third movement of 311: 44:, from his second book of collected harpsichord pieces ( 874:(1 ed.). Portland, Oregon: Amadeus Press. p.  1325: 1100:
The Mysterious Barricades, arranged by Alma Deutscher
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1955: the short story "The Mysterious Barricades" by
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2011: featured prominently in Terrence Malick's film
969:"The Mysterious Barricades: The Piece and its Title" 80:rather than the usual triple time. In the view of 129:was originally published with the spelling 'Les Ba 1077:Cited in: Wheeldon (2009), p. 68; translation by 1361: 1082: 262:between past and present or present and future 204:. This latter piece, though more melodic than 192:, in a master class filmed and distributed by 1156: 837:François Couperin and the perfection of music 70:form, employing a variant of the traditional 1057:. Indiana University Press. pp. 67–68. 1046: 498:(commissioned by the Orquestra Villa Lobos). 494:for 12 cellos, composed by Italian composer 492:Le Barricate Misteriose (Hommage à Couperin) 362:1984 written for and incorporating texts by 96:mathematics, centuries before they existed." 776:, as the cure for an artificial pestilence. 355:, "Las Barricadas Misteriosas" composed by 1163: 1149: 892: 541:song "Mysterious Barricades" on the album 157:in winemaking (given that the French word 1136:International Music Score Library Project 985: 1052: 962: 960: 958: 956: 954: 952: 950: 841:. Aldershot, England: Ashgate. pp.  828: 826: 239: 153:, the pounding rhythm may represent the 149:character of other pieces in Couperin's 898: 793: 662:2006: featured in Sofia Coppola's film 1362: 1122:Simon J. Evnine, University of Miami, 920: 832: 295:, expressed particular admiration for 36:in 1717. It is the fifth piece in his 1170: 1144: 947: 823: 762:2002: featured in the thriller novel 312:Homages and references in other works 259:impeding communication between people 92:that seem to have presaged images of 865: 705: 620: 270:Le Mystère ou les Fêtes de l'Inconnu 998:from the original on 27 March 2022. 929:"Mysterious Titles, Hidden Meaning" 926: 805:(in French). Vol. 339. Paris: 683:2015: featured in the French movie 599:, bearing resemblance to the piece. 13: 975:from the original on 7 March 2021. 966: 591:2019 song "Bambina" off the album 14: 1396: 1370:Compositions by François Couperin 1116: 1083:Lesure F; Smith RL, eds. (1977). 899:Service, Tom (January 14, 2010). 175:in the sacrament of the Eucharist 1347: 1335: 1310: 1309: 709: 624: 1091: 1071: 1034: 16:1717 piece by François Couperin 1266:Marguerite-Antoinette Couperin 1018: 1002: 979: 859: 787: 610: 510:San Antonio Symphony Orchestra 398:1987 piece for solo guitar by 141:can remain hidden over time). 1: 1010:http://lccn.loc.gov/r64001443 988:"Les Barricades Mystérieuses" 780: 693: 479:that make up the composition 165:was a designation adopted by 1385:Compositions in B-flat major 1375:Compositions for harpsichord 1203:L'art de toucher le clavecin 268:masks worn by performers of 103: 7: 1196:Les Barricades Mystérieuses 1125:Les Barricades Mystérieuses 1087:. A. A. Knopf. p. 275. 753:More than You Bargained For 299:. In 1903, Debussy wrote: 297:Les Barricades Mystérieuses 218:Les Barricades Mystérieuses 127:Les Barricades Mystérieuses 117:Les Barricades Mystérieuses 48:). It is emblematic of the 28:) is a piece of music that 21:Les Barricades Mystérieuses 10: 1401: 1276:Marguerite-Louise Couperin 1132:Pièces de Clavecin, Book 2 992:www.clavecin-en-france.org 939:(3): 32–36. Archived from 870:A guide to the harpsichord 440:Cleveland Chamber Symphony 319: 1305: 1291:Gervais-François Couperin 1256: 1238: 1213: 1187: 1178: 508:1997 commissioned by the 283: 54:characteristic of French 26:The Mysterious Barricades 121: 61: 656: 518:Robert Xavier Rodriguez 305:Barricades Mystérieuses 108:download the audio file 833:Tunley, David (2004). 514:Sinfonía à la Mariachi 481:Récréations françaises 309: 265:between life and death 252: 226: 151:Ordre 6ème de clavecin 98: 56:Baroque keyboard music 38:Ordre 6ème de clavecin 1286:Pierre-Louis Couperin 1281:Armand-Louis Couperin 1079:Richard Langham Smith 803:Découvertes Gallimard 301: 245:Jean-Honoré Fragonard 243: 186: 86: 1229:L'Apothéose de Lully 1181:List of compositions 1055:Debussy's Late Style 543:Letter to the Editor 293:his own piano études 171:Mysteries of Bacchus 161:means 'barrel', and 1053:Wheeldon M (2009). 933:Early Music America 593:Father of the Bride 532:Jacobo Durán-Loriga 483:by French composer 455:America: A prophecy 342:Bhajebochstiannanas 1247:Leçons de ténèbres 986:Tuffery P (2020). 866:Bond, Ann (1997). 750:in her collection 721:. You can help by 686:Nous trois ou rien 636:. You can help by 602:2021 The composer 377:1986 album titled 364:Christopher Hewitt 253: 155:stamping of grapes 46:Pièces de Clavecin 1380:1717 compositions 1323: 1322: 1172:François Couperin 1064:978-0-253-35239-2 967:Evnine, Simon J. 739: 738: 654: 653: 404:The Baroque Album 274:Duchesse du Maine 212:evocative of the 139:musical allusions 112: 30:François Couperin 1392: 1352: 1351: 1350: 1340: 1339: 1338: 1331: 1313: 1312: 1165: 1158: 1151: 1142: 1141: 1134:: Scores at the 1110: 1109: 1108: 1107: 1095: 1089: 1088: 1075: 1069: 1068: 1050: 1044: 1042:Cited in Evnine. 1038: 1032: 1022: 1016: 1006: 1000: 999: 983: 977: 976: 964: 945: 944: 924: 918: 917: 915: 913: 896: 890: 889: 873: 863: 857: 856: 840: 830: 821: 820: 797:(January 1998). 795:Baumont, Olivier 791: 734: 731: 713: 706: 666:Marie Antoinette 649: 646: 628: 621: 575:electro-acoustic 568:António Ferreira 525:Robert T. Kelley 466:Dusan Bogdanovic 426:Luca Francesconi 387:Barbara Thompson 327:Moog synthesizer 167:viticulturalists 115:Opening bars of 1400: 1399: 1395: 1394: 1393: 1391: 1390: 1389: 1360: 1359: 1358: 1348: 1346: 1342:Classical music 1336: 1334: 1326: 1324: 1319: 1301: 1258:Couperin family 1252: 1234: 1222:Concerts royaux 1209: 1183: 1174: 1169: 1119: 1114: 1113: 1105: 1103: 1097: 1096: 1092: 1076: 1072: 1065: 1051: 1047: 1039: 1035: 1029:cited in Evnine 1023: 1019: 1007: 1003: 984: 980: 965: 948: 943:on 14 May 2022. 925: 921: 911: 909: 897: 893: 886: 864: 860: 853: 831: 824: 817: 792: 788: 783: 774:Francesco Sorti 735: 729: 726: 719:needs expansion 696: 659: 650: 644: 641: 634:needs expansion 613: 597:Vampire Weekend 503:Scott Smallwood 379:Heavenly Bodies 351:1982 piece for 322: 314: 286: 249:The Love Letter 247: 230:double entendre 124: 119: 114: 113: 111: 76:in the bass in 66:The work is in 64: 17: 12: 11: 5: 1398: 1388: 1387: 1382: 1377: 1372: 1357: 1356: 1344: 1321: 1320: 1318: 1317: 1306: 1303: 1302: 1300: 1299: 1298: 1297: 1296: 1295: 1294: 1293: 1288: 1271:Louis Couperin 1268: 1262: 1260: 1254: 1253: 1251: 1250: 1242: 1240: 1236: 1235: 1233: 1232: 1225: 1217: 1215: 1211: 1210: 1208: 1207: 1199: 1191: 1189: 1185: 1184: 1179: 1176: 1175: 1168: 1167: 1160: 1153: 1145: 1139: 1138: 1129: 1118: 1117:External links 1115: 1112: 1111: 1090: 1070: 1063: 1045: 1033: 1017: 1001: 978: 946: 927:Cyr M (2014). 919: 891: 884: 858: 851: 822: 815: 809:. p. 74. 785: 784: 782: 779: 778: 777: 760: 756: 744: 737: 736: 716: 714: 695: 692: 691: 690: 681: 672: 658: 655: 652: 651: 631: 629: 612: 609: 608: 607: 604:Alma Deutscher 600: 589: 582: 571: 564: 557: 550: 535: 528: 521: 506: 499: 488: 469: 462: 447: 442:, composed by 436: 433:Matthias Maute 429: 422: 407: 396: 381:including the 375: 360: 357:Sergio Barroso 349: 346:Anthony Newman 338: 331:Short Circuits 321: 318: 313: 310: 289:Claude Debussy 285: 282: 281: 280: 277: 266: 263: 260: 206:Les Barricades 194:Harmonia Mundi 123: 120: 105: 102: 99: 78:quadruple time 63: 60: 15: 9: 6: 4: 3: 2: 1397: 1386: 1383: 1381: 1378: 1376: 1373: 1371: 1368: 1367: 1365: 1355: 1345: 1343: 1333: 1332: 1329: 1316: 1308: 1307: 1304: 1292: 1289: 1287: 1284: 1283: 1282: 1279: 1278: 1277: 1274: 1273: 1272: 1269: 1267: 1264: 1263: 1261: 1259: 1255: 1249: 1248: 1244: 1243: 1241: 1237: 1231: 1230: 1226: 1224: 1223: 1219: 1218: 1216: 1212: 1205: 1204: 1200: 1198: 1197: 1193: 1192: 1190: 1186: 1182: 1177: 1173: 1166: 1161: 1159: 1154: 1152: 1147: 1146: 1143: 1137: 1133: 1130: 1127: 1126: 1121: 1120: 1102: 1101: 1094: 1086: 1080: 1074: 1066: 1060: 1056: 1049: 1043: 1037: 1030: 1026: 1021: 1015: 1011: 1005: 997: 994:(in French). 993: 989: 982: 974: 970: 963: 961: 959: 957: 955: 953: 951: 942: 938: 934: 930: 923: 908: 907: 902: 895: 887: 881: 877: 872: 871: 862: 854: 848: 844: 839: 838: 829: 827: 818: 812: 808: 804: 800: 796: 790: 786: 775: 771: 767: 766: 761: 757: 755: 754: 749: 745: 741: 740: 733: 724: 720: 717:This section 715: 712: 708: 707: 704: 703: 701: 699: 688: 687: 682: 680: 678: 673: 670: 668: 667: 661: 660: 648: 639: 635: 632:This section 630: 627: 623: 622: 619: 618: 616: 605: 601: 598: 594: 590: 587: 586:Jung Sun Kang 583: 580: 576: 572: 569: 565: 562: 558: 555: 554:Philip Corner 551: 548: 544: 540: 536: 533: 529: 526: 522: 519: 515: 511: 507: 504: 500: 497: 496:Gabriella Zen 493: 489: 486: 485:Gérard Pesson 482: 478: 474: 470: 467: 463: 460: 456: 452: 448: 445: 441: 437: 434: 430: 427: 423: 420: 416: 412: 408: 405: 402:on his album 401: 400:John Williams 397: 394: 393: 388: 384: 380: 376: 373: 372:Andrew Thomas 369: 365: 361: 358: 354: 350: 347: 343: 339: 336: 332: 328: 324: 323: 317: 308: 306: 300: 298: 294: 290: 278: 275: 271: 267: 264: 261: 258: 257: 256: 250: 246: 242: 238: 236: 231: 225: 223: 222:Les Bergeries 219: 215: 211: 207: 203: 202:Les Bergeries 199: 195: 191: 185: 182: 180: 176: 172: 168: 164: 160: 156: 152: 148: 142: 140: 136: 132: 128: 118: 109: 97: 95: 91: 90:trompe l'oeil 85: 83: 79: 75: 74: 69: 59: 57: 53: 52: 47: 43: 39: 35: 32:composed for 31: 27: 23: 22: 1245: 1227: 1220: 1201: 1195: 1194: 1123: 1104:, retrieved 1099: 1093: 1084: 1073: 1054: 1048: 1041: 1036: 1028: 1024: 1020: 1004: 991: 981: 941:the original 936: 932: 922: 910:. 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Index

François Couperin
harpsichord
B-flat major
style brisé
Baroque keyboard music
rondeau
romanesca
quadruple time
Tom Service
trompe l'oeil
fractal
download the audio file
musical allusions
bucolic
stamping of grapes
viticulturalists
Mysteries of Bacchus
in the sacrament of the Eucharist
salonnières
Scott Ross
Harmonia Mundi
style luthé
ostinato
musette
double entendre
Igor Kipnis

Jean-Honoré Fragonard
Le Mystère ou les Fêtes de l'Inconnu
Duchesse du Maine

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