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François Couperin (1668-1733)
grew up in Paris in a family of musicians. He was taught first by his
father, then by his uncle, and later studied with Jacques Thomelin and Michel Richard Delalande.
Louis XIV chose him as organist when he was only 17. Couperin, on his father's death, took over
as organist at St. Gervais. Later he was appointed at the Royal Chapel in Versailles and became
Court Harpsichordist. In 1690, Couperin published his first and only collection of organ works
(Livre d'Orgue): the "Messe à l'usage des Paroisses" (Mass for the Parishes) and the "Messe des
Couvents" (Mass for the Convents). According to the tradition of his time, he set the hymns and
antiphons of the Mass to music as instrumental pieces to be played in alternance with the Gregorian
Chants of the Liturgy: five verses for the Kyrie, nine for the Gloria, three for the Sanctus and two
for the Angus Dei. More importance was given to church music only at the Offertory and the Recessional
(Deo Gratias).
Just as Johann Sebastian Bach took the main theme for his "Goldberg Variations" from Couperin, Couperin
himself integrated well-known French and European music into his works. There are fantasies, dances,
duets, trios, airs, inventions and fugues, which contain elements of the Italian sonata and aria as well
as German counterpoint. However, the highly personal and French character of his music remains evident.
Couperin eschewed the Basso Continuo, modern at the time, but cultivated his own unique ornamentations
and style and developed a fine art, one which did not yet exist in Europe in his day, writing detailed,
expressive and colourful Registrations for each work.
The "Messe à l'usage des Paroisses", previously mentioned, is more detailed, richer in variations, more
modern and at the same time closer to Gregorian Chant than the "Messe des Couvents".
The "Livre d'Orgue" along with the work of Nicloas de Grigny, is one of the masterpieces of late 17th
Century French music, and may be considered, with the "Livres pour Clavecin" (Books for the harpsichord)
and the "Leçons des Ténébres" (Lessons from the World of Darkness) as François Couperin's greatest work.
Till Aly
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