Le Tombeau de Couperin harks back both to the time of Louis XIV and to the years of the Great War, when Maurice Ravel left composing to serve as a driver in the French military. Initially published in 1919 as a piano solo suite of six movements, it was reimagined in 1920 as a ballet in four movements (Prélude followed by three Baroque Dances: Forlane, Menuet, Rigaudon). The movements were dedicated to fallen soldiers who were personal friends and associates.

This programme juxtaposes Le Tombeau de Couperin with dances from the time of François Couperin and excerpts from the original Concerts Royaux, on which Ravel based his work. By presenting this 20th century suite alongside the Baroque music and dance that inspired it, we hope to give the audience a unique insight into Ravel’s creative process.

In addition, two sets of three chansons, one by Couperin and the other by Ravel, will be sung by Early Music vocalist Héloïse Bernard. Also featured will be Tiffany Vong on harpsichord and Tim Macdonald on Baroque violin.

Baroque dances, with music by Jean-Baptiste Lully, Jacques Cordier, André Campra and André Cardinal Destouches, echo the keyboard suites, which will be performed by Edinburgh-based Historical Dance & Music Ensemble Autrefois, led by Talitha MacKenzie, graduate of the New England Conservatory of Music and lecturer in Historical Dance at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. 

The Tombeau Project is in celebration of the 150th anniversary of Maurice Ravel (7 Mar 1875-28 December 1937). 

https://www.ifecosse.org.uk/events-agenda/le-tombeau-de-couperin-by-maurice-ravel-concert-and-baroque-dances/#/