Fransois Couperin French composer, harpsichordist, organist Date of Birth: 10.11.1668 Country: France

Biography of François Couperin

François Couperin was a remarkable French composer, organist, and harpsichordist. Born on November 10, 1668, in Paris, he belonged to a family that produced several generations of musicians. François began studying music under the guidance of his father, Charles Couperin. After his father's death in 1685, François took on the position of organist at the church of Saint-Gervais in Paris.

After eight years, François's exceptional mastery of music was recognized, and he was invited to serve as a court organist. Starting from 1703, he also became a court harpsichordist. It was for the harpsichord, known as the king of musical instruments during the 17th and 18th centuries, that Couperin wrote his main compositions. He published approximately 250 harpsichord pieces of various characters, for which he usually provided programmatic titles such as "Reeds," "Butterflies," "Grape Harvesters," "Harvesters," "The Spaniard," "The Coquette," "Desire," "Fidelity," and others. These miniature sketches were characterized by incredible inventiveness, elegance, and expressiveness. Couperin's compositions gained immense popularity not only in France but also abroad. His contemporaries referred to him as the "great Couperin."

In addition to harpsichord pieces, Couperin composed 4 Royal Concerts, 10 Concerts, several trio sonatas, organ masses, motets, and 3 pre-Easter dinners. He outlined his performance principles in the treatise "The Art of Playing the Harpsichord." In 1730, Couperin retired, and his daughter Marguerite-Antoinette took over as the court harpsichordist. On September 12, 1733, François Couperin passed away in Paris, the city where he had spent his entire life.