HMR Project: History of Music & Modern Recording

Armand-Louis Couperin

Portrait by Charles-Nicolas Noël 1766

Born on 25 Feb 1727 in Paris, Armand-Louis Couperin was an organist of the Couperin musical dynasty, his cousin, François Couperin the Grand, among the most notable, he the nephew of Louis Couperin. What little music by Armond-Louis that survives largely consists of keyboard pieces. He never wrote for theatre. As Couperin's mother died when he was seventeen months old he was raised by a single father who was a church composer and organist. Upon his father's death in 1748, Couperin inherited his position at Saint Gervais. Marrying in 1752, both he and his wife, Elisabeth-Antoinette Blanchet, taught harpsichord lessons. Couperin held positions at several churches during his career including Notre Dame in 1755, Sainte-Chapelle in 1760 and the Royal Chapel of King Louis XV in 1770.

There is no directory or verseichnis of Couperin's oeuvre. Albeit his 'L'Amour Médecin' was published in 1750 it is not ascribed as his Op 1. 'L'Amour Médecin' is a cantatille de dessus (cantata for soprano) in three sections followed by Couperin's Op 1 in 1751 titled 'Pièces de Clavecin' [score]. His Op 2, 'Sonates en pièces de clavecin', arrived in 1765. Come his Op 3, 'Sonates en trio', in 1770. Authors at Wikipedia trace Couperin to as late as 'Motet au Saint Sacrement', one of several motets dated to 1787.

Five of the harpsichord pieces below are from Armand's 'Pièces de Clavecin' Op 1 dedicated to Madame Victoire de France (daughter of Louis XV) in 1751. IMSLP gives his 'Simphonie de clavecins' a composition date of circa 1773. We wrap this presentation with 'Suite in D minor' concerning which date I've not been able to identify.