Louis Couperin, a French composer, harpsichordist, and organist, worked at the court of Louis XIV in Versailles but never held an official position as harpsichordist.
Compositional Technique
The unmeasured Préludes by Louis Couperin are a form of 'controlled improvisation' and are considered a peak of 17th-century French harpsichord music.
Interpretation
The performer, Massimo Berghella, has organized Louis Couperin's harpsichord pieces into Suites based on the tonality of the unmeasured Préludes as they appear in the Bauyn Manuscript.
Recording & Production
The harpsichord used in this recording was built in 2018 by Andrea Di Maio, and is a copy of an instrument by Vincent Thibaut from 1681.
Composer Biography
Louis Couperin was discovered by Jacques Champion de Chambonnieres, a famous composer and founder of the French harpsichord school, who invited Couperin to study with him.
Composition History
Louis Couperin's music was not formally published during his lifetime; instead, it has come down to us through various manuscripts, primarily the Bauyn Manuscript and the Parville Manuscript.
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