François Couperin: Works

Carnival is a delightful piece in B flat major for harpsichord by François Couperin.

Les Moissonneurs (The Harvesters) is a seven part rondo for harpsichord by François Couperin. It is from Book II (circa 1717) of his collection Pièces de Clavecin.

François Couperin (1668 – 1733) was a French Baroque composer, organist, and harpsichordist. He was known as "Couperin le Grand" ("Couperin the Great") to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented Couperin family. Couperin's four books of harpsichord music (from 1713, 1717, 1722, and 1730) contain over 230 pieces, which can be played on solo harpsichord or performed as small chamber works. These volumes were admired by J.S. Bach, as well as Maurice Ravel, who composed a masterpiece called Le tombeau de [François] Couperin (The Tomb of [François] Couperin). Many of Couperin's keyboard pieces have been likened to miniature tone poems, and were adapted for orchestra by Richard Strauss. Johannes Brahms's piano music was influenced by the keyboard music of François Couperin.

Tutorials Playlist

• Carnival

Sheetmusic

In book, Easy Classics to Modern

In book, The Joy of First Classics

• La Superbe ou la Forqueray Slow Sped to tempo

• Les Baricades Misterieuses Half Tempo Slowed digitally

• Les Moissonneurs

Sheetmusic on IMSLP