Couperin's Le Tic Toc Shoc

[kingvictory2003]

I'm glad to see some of Couperin's repertoire making an appearance on piano street--but I would love to have this absolutely charming piece make it on the list! Although I guess the piece was originally for the harpsichord, it almost sounds as if it were really written for the modern piano. Here's a youtube link of a brilliant performance of the piece by Sokolov:

[thalbergmad]

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[kingvictory2003]

Thank you ever so much, thalbergmad. You just made my bad call night in the NICU a more distant memory.

[thalbergmad]

What is the NICU old chap?

Thal

[pianovirus]

Yes, originally the piece was for a two-manual instrument, but I think it sounds fantastic on the piano in the Sokolov-style!
Actually, I'm wondering, do people who play this like Sokolov (i.e. within the same octave, and not the right hand one octave higher, like e.g. Angela Hewitt) play those keys that belong to both voices (anybody know what I mean?) with a finger from both hands simultaneously or do you delegate them to one hand only? I only had a very quick attempt at this one recently, and at first try it looked easier and less confusing to me to simply hit a key with fingers from both hands - didn't seem to me I'm losing control this way. But I didn't try long enough to be sure. Any experiences?

[kingvictory2003]

Hey Thal, NICU = neonatal intensive care unit--all babies that are premature, have high risk conditions such as congenital heart defects, respiratory distress syndrome, etc.. Many are intubated and on mechanical ventilation, lacking either the proper stimulus to breathe or have underdeveloped lungs. Most of the babies also cannot eat properly as they breathe so fast they would swallow down the wrong pipe, and need almost their entire caloric intake given directly into the bloodstream using specially tailored formulas. A great experience, but very exhausting both physically and sometimes emotionally. Again, thanks for posting!!!

Pianovirus--interesting thoughts there. I thought it would be fun to try to play the piece Sokolov style as a challenge. I haven't heard the voices played an octave apart, but just imagining in my mind, I imagine it would lose some of its simplistic charm--not that the piece is easy by any measure.    As to the fingering, I would think it might be easier to keep tempo hitting simultaneous notes with both hands. I'll have to try it out as soon as I have some real time to dedicate to learning this piece, now that I have the score.

Cheers,
Victor