François Couperin (1668 - 1733)

François Couperin (1668 - 1733) - photo 1

François Couperin

François Couperin was a French composer, organist and harpsichordist.

François Couperin is a member of a large dynasty of French musicians. At the age of 18, François succeeded his father, Charles Couperin (1638-1679), as organist at the Church of Saint-Gervais in Paris, and in 1693 he became one of the four organists of the Chapel Royal. He soon became a harpsichord teacher for the royal children, and in 1717 was appointed court harpsichordist.

François Couperin is known primarily for his harpsichord music; between 1713 and 1730 he published four books of more than 250 pieces for harpsichord. Some of them are characterized by complex accompaniment and dialogues between violin and bass, while others are light, graceful and expressive. Couperin's harpsichord pieces, even during the author's lifetime, gained great fame not only in France but also abroad. Couperin also wrote chamber music, including trio sonatas (for harpsichord and two violins) and "Royal Concertos", which he composed for Sunday evening royal entertainment. He also composed motets and other church music. Couperin's last and most significant liturgical work, Leçons de ténèbres (c. 1715), has no parallel in either French or Italian music of the period. Johann Sebastian Bach knew and appreciated this work by Couperin.

Couperin authored The Art of Touching the Clavier (1716), in which he explained in detail the technique of playing the harpsichord. And in his publications of the early 1720s, he suggested a wide variety of ways of combining French and Italian styles.

Date and place of birt:10 november 1668, Paris, France
Date and place of death:11 september 1733, Paris, France
Period of activity: XVII, XVIII century
Specialization:Composer, Educator, Writer
Art style:Baroque
François Couperin (1668-1733) and others - Auction prices

Auction prices François Couperin

All lots

Creators Baroque

Antonio Gherardi (Tatoti) (1638 - 1702)
Antonio Gherardi (Tatoti)
1638 - 1702
Antoni Viladomat i Manalt (1678 - 1755)
Antoni Viladomat i Manalt
1678 - 1755
Giuseppe Marchesi (1699 - 1771)
Giuseppe Marchesi
1699 - 1771
Gillis Peeters I (1612 - 1653)
Gillis Peeters I
1612 - 1653
Louis-Marie Lanté (1789 - 1871)
Louis-Marie Lanté
1789 - 1871
John Pitman (1814 - 1841)
John Pitman
1814 - 1841
Giuseppe Passeri (1654 - 1714)
Giuseppe Passeri
1654 - 1714
Wallerant Vaillant (1623 - 1677)
Wallerant Vaillant
1623 - 1677
José de Mora (1642 - 1724)
José de Mora
1642 - 1724
Stefano Pozzi (1699 - 1768)
Stefano Pozzi
1699 - 1768
Franz Schütz (1751 - 1781)
Franz Schütz
1751 - 1781
Johannes Kölla (1740 - 1778)
Johannes Kölla
1740 - 1778
Giovanni Battista Salvi (1609 - 1685)
Giovanni Battista Salvi
1609 - 1685
Ascanio Luciano (1621 - 1706)
Ascanio Luciano
1621 - 1706
Jean Boisseau (1600 - 1657)
Jean Boisseau
1600 - 1657
Gasparo Lopez (1677 - 1732)
Gasparo Lopez
1677 - 1732
× Create a Search Subscription