[Couperin’s Piano Works] Introducing Masterpieces Left by a Renowned Keyboard Virtuoso of the Baroque Era
François Couperin, born in 1668 into the distinguished Couperin family that produced many musicians, contributed greatly to the development of the French Baroque.
Among his relatives, he is particularly renowned and is thus known as “Couperin le Grand.” He is famous for having left a large body of works for the harpsichord—a keyboard instrument in which strings are plucked by quills when the keys are pressed—and these pieces are now beloved by piano enthusiasts studying Baroque music.
In this article, we spotlight Couperin’s harpsichord works and present them alongside piano performance videos.
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- Piano Pieces by Ibert: Gem-like Masterworks by a 20th-Century French Composer
- [Piano Sheet Music] Beloved Classics | A Comprehensive Introduction to Copyright-Free Works
- It’s so cool if you can play these on the piano! A selection of irresistibly charming masterpieces.
- Chabrier’s Piano Pieces: Gemlike Masterworks Forged by the Esprit of French Music
Couperin’s Piano Pieces: Introducing Masterworks by a Great Baroque Keyboard Virtuoso (11–20)
Pièces de clavecin, Book III, Suite No. 13, No. 3: “The Ribbon for the Bodice”François Couperin
François Couperin, a French composer who left numerous works for the harpsichord—a keyboard instrument of the Baroque era.
“The Ribbons of the Bodice,” included in the 13th Ordre of Book III of his emblematic collection Pièces de clavecin, is a masterpiece that showcases Couperin’s rich sensibility and imagination.
Why not take your time to savor this piece, which fully conveys the allure of Baroque music, while reflecting on the daily life and attire of the time, as well as the French milieu in which Couperin lived?
Harpsichord Pieces, Book II, Suite No. 6, No. 1: “The Harvesters”François Couperin
François Couperin, known as a representative composer of French Baroque music.
“The Harvesters,” included in Book II of his Pieces for Harpsichord (Pièces de clavecin), is a captivating work whose lively, pictorial style expresses in sound scenes of rural life and the joy of harvest time.
Its explicit indications for ornamentation are also characteristic, conveying Couperin’s distinctive delicacy.
It is a recommended piece not only as an introduction to Baroque music but also for piano enthusiasts who wish to study the repertoire more deeply.
Pièces de clavecin, Book III, Suite No. 13, No. 4: “The French Temperament, or The Domino”François Couperin
François Couperin shines with his refined style and a wealth of evocative, emblematic titles.
Among the pieces in his Pièces de clavecin, Book III, the 13th Ordre, the fourth piece, “La Françoise, ou le Domino,” stands out in particular.
Depicting various scenes of a masquerade ball in music, it reveals Couperin’s brilliance of expression, as well as the wit and humor embedded in his writing.
This work, a superb example of the Baroque era’s elegant artistry, is a harpsichord masterpiece especially recommended for adults with musical experience.
Harpsichord Pieces, Book III, Suite No. 18, No. 6: “Tick-Tock-Choc, or The Olive Press”François Couperin
François Couperin’s works are known for their refined Baroque musicality and humorously inventive titles.
The piece titled “Tick-Tock-Choc, or The Chocolate Grinder” from Pièces de clavecin, Book 3, 18th Suite, No.
6 is a quintessential example of his style.
Its rhythmically pendulum-like melody evokes a clock’s swing and shines even more beautifully when one makes full use of pedaling and dynamics.
It’s a masterpiece I highly recommend to anyone who wants to savor Baroque subtlety and expressive richness.
In conclusion
We introduced works by François Couperin, who laid the foundations of Baroque music in France.
This time, we posted a video of a piano performance, but when played on the harpsichord—the keyboard instrument of Couperin’s time—the music offers a distinctly different atmosphere.
I recommend enjoying the depth of Baroque music by comparing the two.