Musique heard by François Couperin

Skip Sempé – harpsichord

Jean-Henri d’Anglebert – Prélude in G

Jacques Champion de Chambonnières – Allemande L’Affligée / Sarabande

Louis Couperin – Prélude in F / Tombeau de Monsieur de Blancrocher

Louis Couperin – Prélude in D / Courante / Sarabande / Canaries

Jean-Henri d’Anglebert – Tombeau de Monsieur de Chambonnières

Louis Couperin – Chaconne

Louis Couperin – Prélude in C

Jacques Champion de Chambonnières – Courante

Johann Jakob Froberger – Tombeau de Monsieur Blancrocher

Louis Couperin – Passacaille

François Couperin – Prélude in A / Les Vieux Seigneurs : Sarabande grave / La Divine-Babiche ou les amours badins / Sarabande La Dangereuse /
Musette de Choisy / Musette de Taverny

The Couperin family was something of a musical dynasty in 17th and 18th century France. Louis’s talent was spotted by the court harpsichordist Jacques Champion de Chambonnières who invited him to Paris where he too worked for the court and church. He was a prolific composer, but died young at the age of 35, 7 years before the birth of his nephew François Couperin, le grand. François is regarded as perhaps the most influential French keyboard composer of the 18th century, having written treatises on technique alongside his huge output of musical work.