The Baroque saw many influential musical families as the craft and career of composition and performing was passed from father to son and daughter for generations. One of the greatest dynasties in music was the French family, Couperin. The most influential member of this family was the composer Francois Couperin.
Francois was a third generation musician, born in 1668. His father, Charles, was his first teacher and the organist at St. Gervais. Francois was only 10-years-old when his father died. The church council of St. Gervais declared that Francois would take his father’s place on his 18th birthday. They invested in his education and by the time he took the role he was already an accomplished organist and composer.
Couperin married up, taking Marie-Anne Ansault, from a very influential family, as his wife in 1689. His first publications were dedicated to a few of his wife’s relatives, high level officials within the French government.
In the days of King Louis XIV it was necessary to gain royal privilege to publish and sell music in France. Francois not only was granted this privilege but he was also appointed Louis’ own personal musical teacher in 1693. Couperin’s reputation as a teacher was unmatched. His work The Art of Touch for the Harpsichord was a comprehensive guide for students of all levels.
Couperin’s music shows a mixing of the French and Italian styles, with ambitious harmony, range
and melodic construction far surpassing his contemporaries. He published music for the organ, chamber ensembles, vocal music (both secular and sacred) and four books (220 pieces) of harpsichord music. His harpsichord music was well known in Europe. Bach, himself, had copies and made arrangements of Couperin’s work. This influence continued through the centuries. Brahms was responsible for assembling the first complete edition of Couperin’s harpsichord works. Both Debussy and Ravel called Couperin the epitome of French music.
