> Philip wrote: ... I prefer it as written (we know of Couperin's insistence
that we play as he wrote the music). ... Since the first quaver ... )of each
pair ... is dotted, there's plenty of time to make slow arpeggios. ... But
should such a French piece be played strictly to the metronome? I don't
think so. We can really expand the time within reason.

Fully agree Philip! 
This very Couplet is one of the good places to depart from metronome (and I
guess none of us plays this piece to anything like a "strict metronome"). 
Besides, I do not play this Passacaille terribly slow as some do, but I do
play slower the 7e. Couplet, and I stay a bit (just a bit!) longer on the
chords with the coulés, so there is, as you say, plenty of time. 

CDV


-----Original Message-----
From: Harpsichords and Related Topics [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On
Behalf Of Philip Kimber
Sent: 03 December 2016 08:00
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Couperin's Passacaille Septième Couplet

Very interesting point. I prefer it as written (we know of Couperin's
insistence that we play as he wrote the music).
Since the first quaver (sixteenth)of each pair both in the left hand and the
right hand  is dotted, there's plenty of time to make slow arpeggios and do
the acciaccaturas in the left hand. But should such a French piece be played
strictly to the metronome? I don't think so. We can really expand the time
within reason.

Best

Ph.

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