He was the central figure of the french harpsichord school. Couperin piano music generally considered the most important member of the famous couperin family, and the most important musical figure in france between lully and rameau, francois couperin 16681733 has been known as couperin le grand. Couperins harpsichord music can be played on solo harpsichord or performed as small chamber works. Couperin sarabande pdf this article presents a list of compositions by louis couperin. Having also owned couperins complete harpsichord works on cd by kenneth gilbert great performance. Louis couperin was a pupil of chambonnieres generally recognized as founder of the great french harpsichord school. Couperins four volumes of harpsichord music, published in paris in 17, 1717, 1722, and 1730, contain over 230 individual pieces, which can be played on. The four collections for harpsichord alone are grouped into ordres, a synonym of suites. Couperin specialists assert that there is, should be, continuity within and across the four books. His harpsichord music amounts to somewhat over pieces all of which davitt moroney has included in this impressive and largely satisfying survey on four midprice cds. Couperin composed four books of harpsichord music, which were published between 17 and 1730. Oct 22, 2014 francois couperin harpsichord works 4th book disque. Metronome recordings presents the complete works for harpsichord by francois couperin in a single box set to mark the 350th anniversary of his birth on 10 november 1668. Eventually i found this book, which i have finally gotten around to reading.
Many of couperins keyboard pieces have evocative, picturesque titles. His achievement was the fusion of french and italian styles significant organ and harpsichord works. Francois couperin 1st book of harpsichord pieces disc1 1. Harpsichordist michael borgstede plays couperin s music with sparkle and finesse and although this box set is 11 cds,its a constant pleasure throughout. Francois couperin music hub fandom powered by wikia. Couperin s previous music worked well in the typically french type of modified meantone, but these late pieces of his dont. Couperin complete harpsichord music brilliant 93082 jv. Couperin publishes some of his greatest works, including the chamber collections les nations 1726 and, most famously, les goutsreunis the tastes reunited along with harpsichord collections. And like gil blas, couperin seems to maintain that he, in a way, upheld a degree of personal and artistic integrity by incorporating these earlier italian works virtually unchanged into les nations. The welltempered clavier, book 1, bwv 846869 trevor pinnock.
Supreme among french composers of the baroque era, francois couperin made his career at the court of louis xiv. List of compositions by francois couperin wikipedia. Lunique harpsichord music of francois couperin cedille. Angela hewitt on the music of francois couperin music the. On his fathers premature death the organist position was held by lalande. His harpsichord music is characterized by a highly idiomatic character, both in terms of. His harpsichord music is characterized by a highly idiomatic character, both in. After his nephew francois le grand, louis couperin was undoubtedly the most gifted member of a musically illustrious family. Even now, a player ignores them at their peril, says pianist angela hewitt. Francois couperin 2nd book of harpsichord pieces disc 3 1. His creativity is manifest in his sacred music, chamber music and, above all, his abundant corpus of keyboard works, here presented complete in recordings by the harpsichordist laurence boulay in their first cd release. Clavichord pieces, vol 1 by francois couperin, paperback. In the preface to his fourth book of harpsichord pieces, couperin reports on his failing health.
Francois couperin harpsichord works 4th book disque. He came from a long line of musicians, mostly organists, of whom the most eminent was his uncle, louis couperin, though his father charles 163879 was also a composer and organist of st gervais. Couperin s virtuoso command of harpsichord style, his magnificent technique, and everfresh melodic imagination pervade them all. These pieces were grouped into ordres, which were couperin s own version of suites, containing traditional dances as well as descriptive pieces. Francois couperin was a major french composer of the baroque era and the most significant member of the musical couperin family. Each book, each collection, is divided into suites. Francois couperin composed and published over 230 pieces for keyboard. Couperins four volumes of harpsichord music, published in paris in 17, 1717, 1722, and 1730, contain over 230 individual pieces, and he also published a book of concerts royaux which can be played as solo. Francois couperin was a french baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. Johannes brahms was influenced by and performed couperin s keyboard music in public. Johannes brahms was influenced by and performed couperins keyboard music in public. He was the nephew of louis couperin although francois couperin was only 10 years old when his father, charles couperin.
This book was thoroughly studied by johann sebastian bach, who adopted the fingering system. Francois couperin was the most important member of the illustrious couperin family and was one of the leading composers of the french baroque era. Witty, graceful, and tuneful, the keyboard works of couperin represent a wonderful legacy of latebaroque masterpieces. Afterwards i wanted to read more about the composer and his times. He is the most important and best known member of the couperin composers dynasty. His popularity rests mainly on his four published volumes of harpsichord works, containing over 230 pieces. Harpsichordist michael borgstede plays couperins music with sparkle and finesse and although this box set is 11 cds,its a constant pleasure throughout. Francois couperin 3rd book of harpsichord pieces 33 1. These pieces were grouped into ordres, which were couperins own version of suites, containing traditional dances as well as descriptive pieces. Francois couperin 1st book of harpsichord pieces disc 2 1. Apr 04, 2003 couperin wanted to hear his music performed with taste, and filled his scores with careful instructions to be sure of it. The sonics are wonderful and this is an essential addition to anyone who loves baroque music. Francois couperin, byname couperin le grand the great, born november 10, 1668, paris, francedied september 11, 1733, paris, french composer and harpsichordist, the most renowned of the couperin dynasty of 17th and 18thcentury musicians. Works for harpsichord by blandine verlet, francois.
Francois couperin composer 16681733 play streams in full or download mp3 from classical archives, the largest and best organized classical music site on the web. Blandine verlet is now one of the last living legends of the harpsichord. Overview v biography v compositions v credits v related v. It is exactly what i wanted, but presented more challenges than i. Works for harpsichord by blandine verlet, francois couperin. Francois couperin 3rd book of harpsichord pieces, christophe rousset. Couperins volumes contained over 230 individual pieces, which can be played on solo harpsichord or performed as small chamber works. Francois couperin harpsichord works 4th book, christophe.
Francois couperin 2nd book of harpsichord pieces disc1 1. Francois couperin french composer 16681733 britannica. This is my favorite versions of the complete couperin harpsichord works. Couperins four books of harpsichord works occupied him throughout his composing life, the first publication appearing in 17 when he was 45 although many of the pieces were doubtless composed somewhat earlier, while the last dates from 1730, by which time the aging composer was suffering from ill. The edition was based entirely on the bauyn manuscript, the only source known at that time. Couperins four volumes of harpsichord music, published in paris in 17, 1717, 1722, and 1730, contain over 230 individual pieces, and he also published a book of concerts royaux which can be played as solo harpsichord pieces or as small chamber works. The harpsichord music of francois couperin books 2,3,and 4 as well as those from jean philippe rameau book 2 1724 and 3 1728 are the summit of the french baroque,however those from jean francois dandrieu book 1 1724 and 2 1728,jacques duphly book 1 1744,book 2 1748 and 3 1756 and jean baptiste forqueray 1747 are.
Couperins four books of harpsichord works occupied him throughout his composing life, the first publication appearing in 17 when he was 45 although many of the pieces were doubtless composed somewhat earlier, while the last dates from 1730, by which time the aging composer was suffering from ill health. Later richard strauss orchestrated several of couperins keyboard pieces in a form of tone poems. He quickly became one of the most prominent parisian musicians. Couperin s four volumes of harpsichord music, published in paris in 17, 1717, 1722, and 1730, contain over 230 individual pieces, and he also published a book of concerts royaux which can be played as solo harpsichord pieces or as small chamber works. Couperin s four volumes of harpsichord music, published in paris in 17, 1717, 1722, and 1730, contain over 230 individual pieces, which can be played on solo harpsichord or performed as small chamber works. Couperin, nicknamed le grand, can be counted amongst the leadingbaroque composers, and in particular of harpsichord music. The harpsichord music of francois couperin books 2,3,and 4 as well as those from jean philippe rameau book 2 1724 and 3 1728 are the summit of the french baroque,however those from jean francois dandrieu book 1 1724 and 2 1728,jacques duphly book 1 1744, book 2 1748 and 3 1756 and jean baptiste forqueray 1747 are. The pieces of these volumes could not be grouped into suites, as was the fashion in common practice, but it can be ordered, according to the couperins own version of suites based on traditional dances, as well. Indeed, these pieces of his work ok only in bachs tuning or one other one that is close to itbut that other one is explicitly an organ tuning, and couperin s are harpsichord pieces. Later richard strauss orchestrated several of couperin s keyboard pieces in a form of tone poems.
Premier livre, or first book 17 ordres 1 to 5 about 180 minutes of music. Francois couperin harpsichord works 1st book, laurence. Everyday low prices and free delivery on eligible orders. Couperin s harpsichord music can be played on solo harpsichord or performed as small chamber works.