Baroque Harpsichord of François Couperin

François Couperin

Posthumous engraving by Jean Jacques Flipart   1735

From earlier painting by André Bouys

Born in Paris on 10 November 1668, François Couperin (Francois the Grand or Great) takes up the baroque in France a generation or so after Jean-Baptiste Lully. Though he wrote pieces for voice and instruments other than keyboard his principal axe was harpsichord. As a unit of the Couperin musical dynasty, Francois was nephew to Louis Couperin, brother of his father, Charles, organist at the Catholic Church of Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais until his death when Francois was age ten. Couperin became organist at the same church in 1685-86 when he was 17-18 years old. While there he published 'Pièces d'Orgue' in 1690, that containing two masses, 'Messe pour les Paroisses' (for parishes) and 'Messe pour les Couvents' (for convents). It was also about 1690 that Couperin wrote his initial trio sonatas taking after Arcangelo Corelli.

'Messe pour les Paroisses'   Organ mass for parishes by François Couperin

21 movements   1690

Organ: Maertes Helm

'Messe pour les Couvents'   Organ mass for convents by François Couperin

21 movements   1690

Organ: Gillian Weir

In 1693 Couperin became organist of the Chapelle Royale under King Louis XIV (aka le Roi Soleil or Sun King). We begin this presentation of Couperin with his version of 'Domine salvum fac regem' ('God Save the King'), a motet which was used for the French national anthem during the Ancien Regime (Old Regime) circa 1500 to the Revolution of 1789 in which period Louis XIV represents the pinnacle of the monarchical system [Karpowicz-Zbinkowska / Wikipedia]. The text of 'Domine salvum fac regem' is from the last verse of 'Psalm 20' (19 in the Vulgate). First set as a motet by Jean Mouton for the coronation of François I in 1515, it became custom to finalize the celebration of Mass with its performance. Musicologie appears to have Couperin's version for soprano, bass and continuo included in MS Rés. F 1679-1680 (Verset 59) at the Bibliothèque nationale de France, which document I've not been able to locate online. Alexander Maral has Couperin's 'Domine salvum fac regem' "published" in 'Nouvelles élévations ou versets des motets chantés devant le roy' in 1702, also unfound [see also Wikideck / Wikimonde].

'Domine salvum fac regem' ('God Save the King')   Motet by François Couperin

Appeared in manuscript or press in 1702   Composed for SB + continuo

Soprano: Monique Zanetti   Bass: Michael Laplénie   Direction: Bernard Coudurier

Among the duties of the Chapelle Royale was to give weekly concerts to the court, oft on Sundays, Couperin said to be virtuosic on such occasions with several instruments. The first book he published while employed to Louis was 'Premiere livre de pièces de clavecin' consisting of Ordres (movements) 1 to 5 in 1713. He composed four of his Concerts Royaux in 1714 though they didn't see print until 1722.

'Pièces de clavecin'   Premier Livre   Solo harpsichord by François Couperin

Ordre 1 in G minor & G major of 5   Pub 1713

Harpsichord: Roc Vela

'Les Concerts Royaux'   Royal concerts 1-4 by François Couperin

Composed for clavecin or 2-3 unspecified instruments + continuo 1714   Pub 1722

Le Concert des Nations / Jordi Savall    2004

Couperin is well-known for his didactic instruction manual, 'L'art de toucher le clavecin' ('The Art of Harpsichord Playing'), issued in 1716. This book uses eight preludes and an allemande (German dance) for illustration.

8 preludes of 'L'art de toucher le clavecin'   Solo harpsichord by François Couperin

Pub 1716   Revised 1717 to address 'Second livre de pièces de clavecin'

Harpsichord: Ketil Haugsand

Couperin's 'Second livre de pièces de clavecin' consisting of Ordres 6 to 12 appeared in 1716. Included in the latter book as Ordre 10:6 is a rondeau in D major titled 'Les Bagatéles' which is usually identified as the first bagatelle. The bagatelle (later a kind of billiards) is a dismissively brief and light style (Italian "bagatella" = English "trifle"). The first piece called a bagatelle, however, appeared in 1692 as No. 6 of 'Suite à 3 in C major' [Hyperion / IMSLP] which is Suite 1 of 'Pieces en trio pour les flutes, violon, et dessus de viole' [IMSLP] by Marin Marais [OMO / Wikipedia]. Howsoever, Couperin addressed his second book for harpsichord with a new preface and supplement in a revised edition of 'L'art de toucher le clavecin' published in 1717.

'Pièces de clavecin'   Second Livre   Solo harpsichord by François Couperin

Les Bagatelles   Ordre 10.6 in D major of 6-12   Pub 1716

Harpsichord: Davitt Moroney 2014

Couperin's 'Troisième livre de pièces de clavecin' (Ordres 13 to 19) saw print in 1722 followed by ten more royal concerts called 'Nouveaux Concerts' or 'Les Goûts-réunis' in 1724. 'Les Goûts-réunis' refers to the uniting of French and Italian tastes. 'Les Nations' of 1726 consists of four suites titled 'La françoise' (France), 'L’espagnole' (Spain), 'L’impériale' (Holy Roman Empire) and 'La piémontaise' (Savoy dynasty of Piedmont) written for two unspecified treble instruments plus continuo.

'Pièces de clavecin'   Troisième Livre   Solo harpsichord by François Couperin

Ordre 18 in F minor of 13-19   Pub 1722

Harpsichord: QinYing Tan   Cleveland Institute of Music   25 April 2015

'La Francoise'   Trio sonata & suite by François Couperin

Ordre 1 in E minor of 4 of 'Les Nations'

Composed for 2 unspecified treble instruments + continuo   Pub 1726

Flute: Sebastian Wittiber   Oboe: José Luis Garcia Vegara

Cembalo: Flóra Fábri   Violoncello: Ulrich Horn

Couperin's 'Quatrième livre de pièces de clavecin' (Ordres 20 to 27) in 1730:

'Pièces de clavecin'   Quatrième Livre   Solo harpsichord by François Couperin

Ordre 25 in F minor of 20-27   Pub 1730

Harpsichord: Riho Noma    Budapest 2020

Couperin died in Paris on 11 September 1733 upon composing some 126 works. J.S. Bach kept his clavecin methods in use, later employed by Johannes Brahms as well.

IMSLP

IMSLP   Wikipedia