Couperin family facts for kids

The Couperin family was a famous group of musicians. They were professional composers and performers. This family created more music than any other in French history. They were active during the Baroque era, from the 1600s to the 1700s. The most well-known members are Louis Couperin and his nephew, François Couperin le grand.

History of the Couperin Musicians

The Couperin name first appeared in records around 1366. However, the first musician in the family was Mathurin Couperin. He lived from about 1569 to 1640. Mathurin was a trader in Beauvoir, Seine-et-Marne. He also enjoyed playing music as a hobby. We don't have any of his musical pieces today. He stopped performing around 1619. But he taught his two sons, Denis and Charles.

Charles (who died in 1654) moved to Chaumes-en-Brie. This small town is about 30 miles east of Paris. He settled there around 1601. Charles became a farmer. He also worked part-time as an organist. This was at the Benedictine abbey of St. Pierre. At least three of Charles' many children became professional musicians. These were Louis (1626–1661), François (1631–1701), and Charles (1639–1679).

How the Couperins Became Famous

The family became very well known around 1650. This happened when Jacques Champion de Chambonnières visited. He was the King of France's harpsichord player. He was visiting the Brie area. A famous book from 1732, Le Parnasse François, tells the story.

Louis, François, and Charles visited Chambonnières. It was on the Feast of Saint James, his name day. They gave a short concert for him and his guests. They played several pieces that Louis had written. Chambonnières was very impressed by their talent. He took Louis back to Paris with him. By 1651, Louis was already living there. His brothers joined him soon after.

In 1653, Louis became the organist of Church Saint-Gervais. When he passed away, his brother Charles took over. After Charles, his son became the organist. The Couperin family held this important job for 173 years!

Key Couperin Composers

Louis was a very successful and important composer. But he died young, in 1661. Most of his music was not published until the 1900s.

Years after Louis's death, another important Couperin was born. This was François Couperin, nicknamed le Grand. This means "the Great." François had poor health throughout his life. But he wrote a lot of music. He created four books of harpsichord pieces. These are considered the best of the French harpsichord school. He also wrote an important book. It was called L'art de toucher le clavecin. This book taught people how to play the harpsichord. He also wrote many other pieces. These included both religious and non-religious works. Many of his pieces are still famous today.

Simplified Family Tree

Organ of Saint-Gervais church

The names of the organists at the Church Saint-Gervais are in bold. The number in parentheses shows the order they held the job. For example, Louis was the first organist. Charles was the second, and François was the third.

• Mathurin Couperin (died 1640); farmer and musician
  • Denis (died 1656); notary and musician
  • Charles the older (died 1654); musician
    • Louis (1) (1626–1661); played harpsichord, organ, and gamba
    • François (about 1631–1708/12); played violin, viola, and harpsichord
      • Marguerite-Louise (1676–1728); singer (soprano) and harpsichordist
      • Nicolas (4) (1680–1748); organist

* Armand-Louis (5) (1727–1789); organist ** Pierre-Louis (6) (1755–1789); organist ** Gervais-François (7) (1759–1826); organist *** Céleste-Thérèse (1795–1860); organist ** Nicolas-Louis (1760–after 1817)

• • • Charles (2) (1639–1679); organist
      • François the Great (3) (1668–1733); organist and harpsichordist

* Marie-Madeleine (1690–1742); a nun and organist * François-Laurent (died after 1740) * Marguerite-Antoinette (1705–1778); harpsichordist for the King

See also

In Spanish: Couperin (familia) para niños