Hendrik Bouman on his works

‘My transcription of Rameau’s Entrée from his operatic work Les Boréades, came from an inner realisation that the piece in its orchestral version may go back to a prototype that was written for the  harpsichord.

To my eyes, ears and fingers it is clear that the piece shows traces of keyboard idiom. It is well known that a number of pieces which Rameau had written originally for the harpsichord, re-appear later as orchestral pieces in his operas. The fact that no keyboard version of his Entrée from Les Boréades has been found does certainly not exclude that there may have existed one. Even if it was just a prototype, it seems rather evident that Rameau, being a most accomplished harpsichordist himself, did at least some of his composing at the keyboard.

So, I became tempted to make a plausible reconstruction of a harpsichord piece that may have been at the origin of  his enchanting Entrée. It remains to mention that Rameau, in his genius, wove a bassoon part into the orchestral version makes the piece sheerly unforgettable.”

Hendrik Bouman, Toulouse, 2019