Louis Couperin became organist at the church of Saint Gervais, a position that remained in the Couperin family for nearly two centuries.
Composition History
The body of work attributed to Louis Couperin may actually be a collective effort by him and his two brothers, François and Charles, who were also musicians.
Composer Biography
Louis Couperin's grandfather, Mathurin Couperin, was described in his will as a 'master player of both high [noble] and low [popular] instruments'.
Composer Biography
Louis Couperin, like Mozart, died at 35, but a century earlier, and was a genius who brought a new style to light.
Recording & Production
The recording features a Ruckers harpsichord from 1624, which is one of the most played Ruckers instruments in Europe and was restored in 1979-1980.
Composition History
Louis Couperin declined an offer from Louis XIV to replace Jacques Champion de Chambonnières (harpsichordist at the court of Louis XIV) as 'Ordinaire de la musique du roi pour le clavecin' out of respect for his mentor.
Compositional Technique
Louis Couperin's famous unmeasured preludes are torrents of uninterrupted cadences that revolutionized music-making, offering an infinite playground for imagination.
