Louis Couperin: Pièces de clavecin

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Louis Couperin

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Composer Biography

Louis Couperin (c. 1626-1661) was part of the first generation of an illustrious musical dynasty, which included his more famous nephew, François Couperin, 'Le Grand'.

Composition History

Louis Couperin's harpsichord pieces were not published during his lifetime and primarily survive in the Bauyn and Parville Manuscripts, copied by unknown scribes.

Instruments

The harpsichord used in this recording was made by Bruce Kennedy in 1985, modeled after a French design, and tuned by Jean-François Brun.

Composition History

The authorship of some pieces attributed to Louis Couperin is uncertain, as manuscripts often only name 'Monsieur Couperin', and his brother Charles was also a renowned harpsichordist.

Compositional Technique

Louis Couperin's preludes are 'unmeasured preludes', a style influenced by Italian toccatas from Frescobaldi and Froberger, and the 17th-century recitative with basso continuo.

Compositional Technique

Louis Couperin's harpsichord music, like that of Marin Marais for viol, requires great power and a varied 'touch' from the performer, prioritizing virtuosity over delicacy.