Les Baricades Mistérieuses

As in many of his pieces, Couperin shows a firm affection for the style luthé. Furthermore, his colleague Robert de Visée transcribed numerous of that great harpsichordist’s pieces for the theorbo. Incidentally, one can easily imagine both musicians during the intervals of chamber concerts given on behalf of Louis XIV, exchanging musical ideas, masterly achievements and drafting respective transcriptions...

The lute doubtlessly provides additional effects and tone colors to this beautiful piece. The tessitura matches that of the lute perfectly, and it can even played in the original key of B flat major.