Publication history The exact date of publication, at Rameau's own expense, of the
Nouvelles Suites de Pièces de Clavecin remains a matter of some controversy. In his 1958 edition of the works, the editor Erwin Jacobi gave 1728 as the original publication date. Kenneth Gilbert, in his 1979 edition, followed suit. Others later argued that these works did not appear until 1729 or 1730. However, a recent reexamination of the publication date, based on the residence Rameau provided in the
frontispiece (
Rue des deux boules aux Trois Rois), suggests an earlier date, since Rameau's residence had changed by 1728. As a result of this and other evidence, the closest approximation for the original publication date stands between February 1726 and the summer of 1727. This dating is given further authentication by the comments of
Friedrich Wilhelm Marpurg, who provided their publication date as 1726. There are almost 40 extant copies of the original 1726/27 edition. Two later editions followed both around 1760. The first (printed perhaps slightly before 1760) was simply a reimpression of the original engravings, although several plates were reengravings, suggesting that the original plates had undergone sufficient impression to wear them down to a state of illegibility. A second appeared in London under the title
A Collection of Lessons for the harpsichord from the printer John Walsh which was based on the earlier Parisian edition.
Suite in A minor, RCT 5 • Allemande • Courante • Sarabande • Les Trois Mains • Fanfarinette • La Triomphante • Gavotte et six doubles c. 33 mins
Suite in G major/G minor, RCT 6 • Les Tricotets. Rondeau • L'indifférente • Menuet I – Menuet II • La Poule • Les Triolets • Les Sauvages • L'Enharmonique. Gracieusement. • L'Égyptienne c. 23 mins ==References==