François Couperin
Baroque · 1668–1733
François Couperin came from a Parisian dynasty of musicians who held the organist's post at the church of Saint-Gervais for generations; he took it over himself at eighteen. He later joined the court of Louis XIV as an organist and harpsichord teacher to the royal family, and contemporaries called him Couperin le Grand, the Great, to set him apart from his relatives.
His lasting work is for the harpsichord: over two hundred short pieces gathered into suites, most with evocative or teasing titles, portraits of friends, moods, and scenes rather than abstract exercises. He also wrote an influential manual on how to play the instrument.
Start with Les Barricades mystérieuses, a hypnotic little piece whose title no one has ever fully explained, then try Les Nations for his chamber music.
85 works in the catalog, across 3 genres. Log what you listen to with Opus, the classical music journal for iPhone.
Chamber
- Les Nations, 3rd Ordre, for chamber ensemble, "L'Imperiale"
- Concert 7
- Concert 9, "Ritratto dell'Amore"
- Concert 10
- Concert 11
- Concert 12
- Concert 13
- Deuxième Concert in D
- L'Apothéose de Lully, for various instruments and continuo
- L'Espagnole, for 2 violins and continuo
- L'impériale, for 2 violins and continuo
- La Françoise, for 2 violins and continuo
- La Piémontoise, for 2 violins and continuo
- La Steinquerque, trio sonata for 2 violins and continuo
- La Sultane, for 2 violins and continuo
- La superbe, for 2 violins and continuo
- Le Parnasse, ou L'Apothéose de Corelli, for 2 violins and continuo
- Les idees heureuses
- Pieces de violes avec la basse chifree
- Pièces en concert, for cello and strings
- Premier Concert in G
- Quatorzième concert, for various instruments in D minor
- Quatrième Concert in E minor
- Suite 1, for viola da gamba and continuo
- Suite 2, for viola da gamba and continuo
- Troisième Concert in A
- Trompette
- Viola da Gamba Suite no. 2 in A
Keyboard
- Les Barricades mystérieuses
- Five Pieces, for two harpsichords
- Introduction
- L’art de toucher le clavecin
- Mass for the Convents, for organ
- Messe des Paroisses, for organ
- Ordre 1 in G minor or G
- Ordre 2 in D minor or D
- Ordre 3 in C minor or C
- Ordre 4 in F
- Ordre 5 in A or A-
- Ordre 6 in B flat major
- Ordre 7 in G or G-
- Ordre 8 in B minor
- Ordre 9 in A or A-
- Ordre 10 in D or D-
- Ordre 11 in C minor or C
- Ordre 12 in E or E-
- Ordre 13 in B minor
- Ordre 14 in D minor or D
- Ordre 15 in A minor or A
- Ordre 16 in G
- Ordre 17 in E minor
- Ordre 18 in F minor or F
- Ordre 19 in D minor or D
- Ordre 20 in G or G-
- Ordre 21 in E minor
- Ordre 22 in D or D-
- Ordre 23 in F
- Ordre 24 in A or A-
- Ordre 25 in E flat major or C or C-
- Ordre 26 in F sharp minor
- Ordre 27 in B minor
- Passacaille
- The Lace Makers
- The Reeds
Vocal
- Ad te levavi oculos meos, for choir
- A l'ombre d'un ormeau, musette, air sérieux for 2 voices and continuo
- Domine salvum fac regem, for choir
- Doux liens de mon coeur, air sérieux for soprano and continuo
- Epitaphe d'un paresseux, air à boire for 2 voices, "Jean s'en alla comme il était venu"
- Exultent superi, for choir, "Motet for Saint Suzanne"
- Laetentur coeli, for 2 sopranos and continuo
- Lauda Sion salvatorem, motet for 2 treble voices and continuo
- Les Pellerines, air sérieux for 2 voices, "Au temple de l'amour"
- Leçons de ténèbres, for 1 or 2 voices and continuo
- Magnificat, for 2 sopranos and continuo
- Magnificat, motet for 2 sopranos and continuo
- Mass for the Parishes
- Messe propre pour les convents de religieux et religieuses
- O domine quia refugium, for 3 basses and continuo
- O misterium ineffabile, for choir, "Elevation"
- Ornate aras, for choir
- Resonent organa, for choir, "Motet for Saint Cecile"
- Tantum ergo sacramentum, for choir
- Vaudeville, air sérieux for 3 voices and continuo, "Faisons du temps un doux usage"
- Victoria: Christo resurgenti, for 2 soprano and continuo
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