“The Mysterious Barricades” for SATB Choir

Exactly 300 years ago after it was first composed for harpsichord, a new SATB choral arrangement of François Couperin’s “The Mysterious Barricades” is now available. I’ve been hypnotized by this piece since I first heard it performed back in college, with its kaleidoscopic and weaving melodies and harmonies, its many suspensions, as well as its almost “walking” bass line that sounds like it could be right out of a Johnny Cash song! From what I can tell, this is the first choral arrangement of the work (which I’ve kept as a vocalise without adding text) and I think that it gives added effect to the suspensions and harmonies in the work that is missing in a performance on harpsichord or piano because of those instruments’ lack of sustaining power. You can preview the full score and hear a performance of the original keyboard version here:

http://keanesouthard.instantencore.com/web/page.aspx?title=%27The+Mysterious+Barricades%22+for+SATB+Choir

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Keane Southard

keanesouthard.instantencore.com