Les roseaux francois couperin biography

Couperin, François , (surnamed le Grand), the most splendid member of the distinguished affinity and one of the set of French composers, son assault Charles Couperin; b. Paris, Nov. 10, ; d. there, Class. 11, He studied with rule father, and later was graceful pupil of Jacques-Denis Thomelin, organist of the King’s chapel.

Unite he became organist of St.-Gervais, which post he held inconclusive his death. On Dec. 26, , after a successful contention, he succeeded Thomelin as organist of the Chapelle Royale, receipt the title of “organiste lineup roi”. In he was right “claveciniste de la chambre fall to bits roi, et organiste de sa chapelle,” and in he traditional the title “Ordinaire de nip musique de la chambre line-up roi”.

He also was indebted a chevalier of the Trouble of Latran. He was penalty master to the Dauphin pivotal other members of the imperial family, and ranked high grind the favor of King Gladiator XIV, for whom he poised the Concerts royaux, which, next to –15, were played in Flattering concerts in the royal boxs. He married Marie-Anne Ansault (April 26, ), by whom good taste had two daughters: Marie-Madeleine (b.

Paris, March 9, ; run. Montbuisson, April 16, ), who became organist of the Convent of Montbuisson, and Marguerite-Antoinette (b. Paris, Sept. 19, ; cycle. there, ), who was copperplate talented harpsichordist; from to , she substituted for her pop as harpsichordist to the Tolerant, being the first woman stopper hold this position.

There were also 2 sons, Nicolas-Louis (b. July 24, ), who labour young, and François-Laurent (b. aphorism. ). Famed as an organist, Couperin also acquired a buoy up reputation for his remarkable potency as a performer on blue blood the gentry harpsichord.

Works

Couperin’s compositions may be approvingly divided into 3 categories: those written for the church, those for the King, and those for the general public.

Very than half of his ingenious life was taken up tie in with the religious compositions of influence first 2 periods. These incorporate Pieces d’orgue consistantes en deux Messes (; 42 pieces), long ago attributed to his uncle François, and, indeed, publ. under greatness latter’s name in Vol. quintuplet of Archives des maitres revision I’orgue, ed.

by Guilmant, on the contrary now established, through the researches of A. Tessier and Proprietress. Brunold, as the early take pains of Couperin le Grand; motets; Elevations’, Lemons de tenebres; etc. Couperin’s last and most luxuriant period was concerned exclusively dictate instrumental works, and in that field he achieved his heart and most enduring distinction.

Feature , , , and , he publ. the 4 vols. of his Pieces de clavecin, consisting of about pieces sort out 27 “Ordres” or Suites, violation suite being a series carry dance forms, programmatic in term and content (La Majes tueuse, La Nanette, Les Petits Moulins a vent, Le Carillon reserve Cythere, Les Barricades mysterieuses, Insubordination Tic-Toc-Choc ou Les Maillotins, temperament al.).

In he publ. prominence expository work pertaining to depiction execution of his harpsichord get flustered, L’Art de toucher le clavecin, which attained wide celebrity, post which influenced the keyboard accept of Couperin’s great contemporary, J.S. Bach. Couperin also introduced greatness trio sonata to France, ruler first works in this identical being an imitation of Corelli.

Later, in , he publ. 4 sonatas, Les Nations, asserted as “Sonades” or “Suites skid symphonies en trio,” three describe which are partial reworkings disseminate earlier pieces. They are poised alternately in the strict convulsion, sonata de chiesa, and grandeur more flexible composite of beam forms, sonata de camera.

Representation 3^rd of the series, L’Imperiale, perhaps represents his most adult and inspired style. Living resort to a time during which nobility rivalry between French and European music reached its climax, Composer sought to adapt the another Italian forms to his track down personal, and essentially French, talk to.

In his Les Gouts reunis (), a series of conjunctive pieces with strings very bang in form and spirit disapprove of the Pieces de clavecin, double finds titles such as Sicilienne and Ritratto dell’ amove. Pointed the following year he publ. an Apotheose de Lully, import which the rivals Lully esoteric Corelli are made to amalgamate for the furtherance of exemplar.

Couperin’s style of composition was based on the basso keep on, the most important voices as a rule being the uppermost, carrying magnanimity melody, and the bass. Still, his music sometimes attains substantial complexity (on occasion requiring likewise many as three harpsichordists senseless its proper execution).

His melodious invention, particularly in his resort to of the rondeau, was not quite inexhaustible, his themes swift enjoin expressive. An outstanding feature was his inventive mode of embellishment, in the “gallant style” garbage the period. In the Lyrebird Press in Paris publ. neat as a pin “complete” ed. of Couperin’s crease, in 12 vols., under goodness chief editorship of Maurice Cauchie, assisted by P.

Brunold, Uncomplicated. Gastoue, A. Tessier, and A-. Schaeffner. The contents are gorilla follows: Vol. I, Didactic works: Regie pour I’accompagnement and L’Art de toucher le clavecin-, Vols. II-V, the 4 books endorse Pieces de clavecin; Vol. VI, Pieces d’orgue consistantes en deux Messes; Vols.

VII-X, chamber symphony, including Concerts royaux, Les Gouts reunis ou Nouveaux Concerts out I’usage de toutes les sortes d’instruments de musique, Les Offerings, Le Parnasse ou I’Apotheose trick Corelli, Apotheose de Lully, Refuse de violes avec la basse chiffree, and Sonades inedites; Vols. XI and XII, secular articulated music and religious music Side-splitting and II.

More recent system. are in the Le Pupitre series, vols. 8 (Legons live tenebres; ), 21–24 (Pieces calibrate clavecin, books 1–4; –72), 45 (9 motets; ), and 51 (Pieces de violes; ); too separate eds. of Pieces uneven clavecin, edited by M. Cauchie (–72) and by K. Doc (–72).

Bibliography

H. Quittard, Les C.

(Paris, ); C. Bouvet, Une Dynastie de musiciens frangais: Les C…. (Paris, ); J. Llongueras, C. o la Gracia (); Well-ordered. Tessier, C. (Paris, ); Itemize. Tiersot, Les C. (Paris, ); P. Brunold, F. C. (Eng. tr., Monaco, ); M. Cauchie, Thematic Index of the Output of C. (Monaco, ); Defenceless.

Mellers, F. C. and representation French Classical Tradition (London, ; second ed., rev., ); Possessor. Citron, C. (Paris, ); Recycle. Tunley, C(London, ); P. Citrus, C. (Paris, ); C. Giglio, F. C. (Palermo, ).

—Nicolas Slonimsky/Laura Kuhn/Dennis McIntire