Couperin's treatise, L'Art de Toucher le Clavecin, includes preludes designed not only to introduce the key of pieces but also to warm up the player's fingers and test the harpsichord.
Composer's Artistic Vision
François Couperin's primary concern as a harpsichord performer was 'expression,' prioritizing it over brilliance or virtuosity.
Historical Context
The Couperin family's musical dynasty, which includes François Couperin, began with his great-grandfather Mathurin, a merchant and musician in the small village of Beauvoir.
Performer Biography
Christophe Rousset, the harpsichordist on this recording, is the founder of the ensemble Les Talens Lyriques and won First Prize at the prestigious Bruges Harpsichord Competition at age 22.
Composer Biography
François Couperin's mother, Marie Guérin, had to secure a loan of three thousand livres to fund his musical education after his father's death, ensuring he could fulfill his inherited position as organist at Saint-Gervais.
Composer Biography
François Couperin held the prestigious position of organist at Saint-Gervais, one of Paris's most important churches, a post previously held by his uncles Louis and Charles Couperin.
Compositional Technique
Couperin's four books of Pièces de clavecin, comprising 240 pieces, are grouped into 'ordres,' similar to palace architecture or dance suites, with titles that often serve as musical portraits.
