Louis Couperin
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Louis Couperin was a French musician of the Baroque period. He was born in Chaumes en Brie near Paris, probably in 1626, and he died in Paris in 1661. He was a skillful harpsichordist, organist, and gambist.
He was the most renowned member of the Couperin family, together with his nephew, François le Grand.
He and his two younger brothers offered an occasional concert to Jacques Champion de Chambonnières on the day of St James. Chambonnières was the most prominent French harpsichordist of his time, and musician to the King. He guessed that this young man was a very talented one, and made him come to Paris in 1650. There he very soon became the titular organist of St Gervais church. He was also prized as gambist and harpsichordist. Johann Jakob Froberger was also in Paris in these days; he probably – though not definitely – met Louis Couperin and their styles influenced each other.
Louis Couperin got his reputation as a great composer mainly from his harpsichord works. He composed more than 130 pieces which were not published during his short life. They were gathered in several manuscripts and belong mainly to the "suite" genre. His unmeasured preludes and chaconnes are the most remarkable among them.
Only a few organ pieces from him were known until the mid 20th century, when a large manuscript was discovered in England: this book proves that Couperin exerted a great influence on organ music in 17th century Europe.
External links
Listen to organ pieces by Louis Couperin
Fantaisie composée à Paris au mois de Décembre 1656 (http://www.aristote.asso.fr/gui/Sons/lcouperinfantaisieparis.wav)
Invitatoire de la feste Dieu (http://www.aristote.asso.fr/gui/Sons/lcouperininvitatoire.wav)
Fantaisie en la mineur sur la montre (http://www.aristote.asso.fr/gui/Sons/lcouperinfantaisiemontre.wav)
2e fantaisie en la mineur sur les anches (http://www.aristote.asso.fr/gui/Sons/lcouperinfantaisieanches.wav)
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