[François Couperin] Introducing famous and popular pieces by the composer who loved the harpsichord
François Couperin, a French composer of the Baroque era.
He grew up in the illustrious musical Couperin family and became the most famous member of his lineage.
Among French musicians he was a unique talent; it is said that the famous German composer Brahms—despite his strong dislike of French music—showed considerable interest in Couperin’s works.
In this article, we introduce some of François Couperin’s masterpieces and popular pieces.
Among his works, the Pièces de clavecin—over 200 pieces—hold a central place.
From these, we’ve selected some of the most renowned pieces, so please enjoy the elegant, evocative music played on the harpsichord.
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[François Couperin] Introducing Masterpieces and Popular Works by the Composer Who Loved the Harpsichord (41–50)
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?
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.
Pièces de clavecin, Book III, Suite No. 14, No. 1: “The Love Nightingale”François Couperin
François Couperin was a leading composer of the French Baroque and a master of the harpsichord.
Among the many masterpieces he left behind, one of the most popular is The Nightingale in Love from the Third Book of Harpsichord Pieces.
This work skillfully depicts the calls of birds in nature, featuring a beautiful melody that imitates the nightingale’s song.
Couperin’s characteristically delicate and emotionally rich music vividly portrays the sweetness and poignancy of love.
It is a piece that fully conveys the charm of Baroque music and one I would recommend to all lovers of classical music.
Pièces de clavecin, Book III, Suite No. 17, No. 2: “The Little Windmill”François Couperin
François Couperin, a composer who epitomizes French Baroque music.
Couperin’s harpsichord pieces often bear poetic titles that spark the listener’s imagination.
“The Little Windmill,” the second piece from Suite No.
17 in Book III of his harpsichord works, is one such example of his distinctive style.
Its charm lies in a sprightly melody that suggests the turning of a windmill and delicate timbres that conjure scenes of wind sweeping through.
The piece lets you feel the refined beauty of Baroque music while fully savoring the richness of emotional expression at which Couperin excelled.
Pièces de clavecin, Book III, Suite No. 18, No. 3 “La religieuse Monique”François Couperin
François Couperin, an important composer of French Baroque music, contributed not only to court music but also to church music.
His collections of harpsichord pieces contain many masterpieces that are quintessential examples of an elegant style.
Among them, The Nun Monique is a particularly captivating piece with its refined ornamentation and delicate expression.
The title, which has been interpreted in multiple ways, reveals Couperin’s witty sensibility.
Although technically somewhat challenging, it is a work I recommend to intermediate and advanced piano enthusiasts who wish to savor the beauty of Baroque music.
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.
Harpsichord Pieces, Book IV, Suite No. 23, No. 2: “The Knitting Women”François Couperin
François Couperin, a master of French Baroque music, came from a musical family and was known as “Couperin le Grand.” He was also one of the foremost harpsichordists of his time.
His representative work, the 23rd suite from Book IV of his Pièces de clavecin, “Les Tricoteuses” (The Knitting Women), is a piece notable for its delicate touch and lively rhythms.
It exemplifies the characteristics of Couperin’s mature style, which skillfully fuses French and Italian musical traditions.
Evoking the refined tastes and elegance of courtly life of the era, this piece is a popular repertoire item not only for the harpsichord but also for the piano.