Couperin (pronounce) was born in Paris in 1668 into a musical family known throughout
Europe (his uncle was Louis Couperin). His father was a respected church organist who died
when Francois was 11. After that Francois was taken care of and taught by organist Jacques-
Denis Thomelin, who served both at the court and at the famous church of St Jacques-de-la-
Boucherie. He showed exceptional talent in his teens and served at the Courts throughout his
life and was employed at the court and Church at 18. He had three children and passed away
at age 65 after a decade of declining health.
Mostly known for his four books of harpsichord works (1713, 1717, 1723, 1730) of over
Mostly known for his four books of harpsichord works (1713, 1717, 1723, 1730) of over
100 short pieces, Couperin also wrote organ works, sacred music, secular madrigals, and
chamber music. J.S. Bach, Johannes Brahms, and Maurice Ravel were all admirers of
Couperin's keyboard compositions.
Class Selections:
Book 2 (1717) Ordres 7 - 12
Ordre 6 - ème de clavecin in B flat major:
No. 5 - Les baricades mistérieuses (The Mysterious Barricades) - Jean Rondeau, harpsichord & Thomas Dunford, therbo (2:31)
Book 4 (1730) Ordres 20 - 17
Ordre 25 - ème de clavecin in E flat major / C minor:
No 5. Les ombres errante (The Wandering Shadows), Iddo Bar-Shaï, piano (3:45)
Book 3 (1722) Ordres 13 - 19
Ordre 17 - ème de clavecin in E minor
No. 1 - La superbe ou La Forqueray, Mikhail Kollontay, piano (4:00)
Ordre 18 - ème de clavecin in F major:
No. 6 - Le tic-toc-choc ou Les maillotins - Grigory Sokolov, piano (2:33)
Total = 13 minutes
1 hour, 7 minutes of Couperin piano works played by Iddo Bar-Shaï
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