J.A.W.

You're right about sound samples, but one has to start somewhere; I can't afford to get all the stuff I'm interested in and it's a way to make a selection. I am fortunate enough to have a sound system (Mark Levinson front end and amplification, Quad electrostatics) that can cope with harpsichord music; a good and well-recorded instrument sounds great, a good, well-recorded and well-played instrument better still .

The tempo choices of recent recordings are very adequate - the pioneers of period instrument playing tended to choose tempos as told by 20th century teachings, but research has shown the palette of tempos was much wider, and some were indeed fast and furious. Couperin had a virtuoso side to his playing, too. This is also supported by research on the titles of Couperin pieces and the meanings and persons they refer to: amazon link - see also on Jane Clark's site janiculum Yes, I know, and I wasn't referring to the choice of tempi; what I meant was that the sound tended to be congested in the fast pieces on that particular recording, as if her trying to get somewhere in a hurry (hence the Paddington remark) was making the sound muddy and opaque. I don't know if the instrument is to "blame" or if it's an engineering thing, but I didn't like what I heard, at least not in the faster pieces; I didn't like the piece where Hantaï joins in at all.

The Schornsheim WTC is one of MomsMobley's recommendations I totally agree with.

This is a great set: Amazon Amazon U.K. Amazon Germany Amazon France

Correct, the Atlantic dates from 1972.

I thought this one was relatively dull (though it has its moments). Definitely not on the level of Out of the Cool or Individualism. Gil Evans & Ten is one of my favourite Gil Evans albums, along with Out of the Cool and the two Pacific Jazz albums, New Bottle, Old Wine and Great Jazz Standards.

Couldn't agree more.

Not to quibble...he would have turned 89 come October. So he was born in 1923, not 1922. Thanks for the info. He was born in 1922, see: http://arts.gov/honors/jazz/jmCMS/master.php?id=2012_02&type=bio See Chuck's post, #26.

Thanks Chuck, and my condolences.

I brought it up because I expect and trust serious newspapers like the Chicago Tribune to give the correct info. They said he was 88, while my sources say 89.

Not to quibble...he would have turned 89 come October. So he was born in 1923, not 1922. Thanks for the info.

Yep.

Sad news. According to the Chicago Tribune he was 88, but as far as I know he was born in October 1922, so I guess he was 89.

This is not a box. Chuck has been releasing remastered CDs which include material that was issued in the Art Ensemble box and this is one of them. These were released so far: Roscoe Mitchell: • Old/Quartet Sessions – 2CD-set • Congliptious Lester Bowie: • All the Numbers – 2CD-set Chuck has also reissued several other Nessa albums on remastered CDs these last few years. Why don't you ask him to mail you a list of what he has available?

Also on vinyl ? Please! Chuck has released none of the remasters on vinyl and I don't think he will make an exception for this one.

The Proper set is a European public-domain release, which means that they didn't have access to the master tapes and copied the material from sources like other CDs. This Prestige set sonically seems the best choice to me. Like jeffcrom posted, the recordings are mono, Prestige didn't start recording in stereo until later.

Are you taking pre-orders and if so, how much including int'l shipping?

Amazon

I listened to sound samples of that one on one of the Amazon sites and it sounded to me as if there were playing two harpsichords on a track - don't tell me it's Hantaï... [edit] I took a close look at the photo of the back insert of the CD and it's indeed Hantaï... I wasn't impressed by some of the more uptempo tracks, they sounded congested, as if she had to catch the 4:50 from Paddington...

This may sound as blasphemy to some here, but I can't get used to Hantaï's playing, it's too quirky for my taste. There's a second volume:

Larry, Are you referring to this Rannou Couperin album: It used to be available on CD, but not anymore. It can be had used, but at a price...

No, don't know that one, and 10 discs of François Couperin is a bit much for me. How's this Blandine Verlet François Couperin 2CD-set: Amazon (it's much cheaper in Europe)

I think François Couperin recommendations can be posted in my Baroque solo pieces thread.

No, don't know that one, and 10 discs of F. Couperin is a bit much for me. How's this Blandine Verlet F. Couperin 2CD-set: Amazon (it's much cheaper in Europe)

No, that rule was never implemented.