Gervais-François Couperin (22 May 1759 – 11 March 1826) was a representative of the famous

Couperin family The Couperin family was a musical dynasty of professional composers and performers. They were the most prolific family in France, French musical history, active during the Baroque era (17th—18th centuries). Louis Couperin and his nephew, Franço ...

of composers and

organists An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists. In addition, an organist may accompany congregational h ...

Biography

He studied with his father Armand-Louis Couperin. In 1789, Gervais-François replaced his father at the

Sainte-Chapelle The Sainte-Chapelle (; ) is a royal chapel in the Gothic style, within the medieval Palais de la Cité, the residence of the Kings of France until the 14th century, on the Île de la Cité in the River Seine in Paris, France. Construction b ...

organ. Gervais-François succeeded his brother Pierre-Louis Couperin at

Notre-Dame de Paris Notre-Dame de Paris ( ; meaning "Cathedral of Our Lady of Paris"), often referred to simply as Notre-Dame, is a Medieval architecture, medieval Catholic cathedral on the Île de la Cité (an island in the River Seine), in the 4th arrondissemen ...

, a position he held until the

Revolution In political science, a revolution (, 'a turn around') is a rapid, fundamental transformation of a society's class, state, ethnic or religious structures. According to sociologist Jack Goldstone, all revolutions contain "a common set of elements ...

. He was later an organist at

St-Gervais-et-St-Protais Saint-Gervais-Saint-Protais () is a Roman Catholic parish church located in the 4th arrondissement of Paris, on Place Saint-Gervais in the Marais district, east of City Hall (Hôtel de Ville). The current church was built between 1494 and 1657, ...

and

Saint-Merri The Church of Saint-Merri or ''Église Saint-Merry'') is a parish church in Paris, located near the Centre Pompidou along the rue Saint Martin, in the 4th arrondissement on the Rive Droite (Right Bank). It is dedicated to the 7th century abbot o ...

(1818–1826). He married Hélène Thérèse Frey, a singer, with whom he had a daughter, Céleste Thérèse (1793–1860), who succeeded him briefly as the organist at

. She became the last member of the Couperin musical dynasty. Gervais-François Couperin died in Paris on 11 March 1826 at the age of 66.

Works

*1782: ''Rondo'' in D major for harpsichord or pianoforte *1788: ''Deux Sonates'' Op. 1 for harpsichord or pianoforte with violin and violoncello ad libitum *1790: ''Ah ! Ça ira !'', variations for harpsichord *1797: ''Ouvertures d'Iphigénie et de Démophon'' for the pianoforte and violin ad libitum *1797: ''Les Incroyables et Les Merveilleuses'' for pianoforte *1799: ''Premier Recueil contenant six Romances, avec accompagnement de piano-forte ou harpe'' *1816: ''Louis XVIII ou le Retour du bonheur en France''.''Louis XVIII ou le Retour du bonheur en France''
on data.bnf.fr

Bibliography

*Anthony, James R. (1997)
''French Baroque Music from Beaujoyeulx to Rameau''
Portland, Amadeus Press * Beaussant, Philippe (1980)
''François Couperin''
, Paris,

Fayard Fayard (complete name: ''Librairie Arthème Fayard'') is a French Paris-based publishing house established in 1857. Fayard is controlled by Hachette Livre. In 1999, Éditions Pauvert became part of Fayard. Claude Durand was director of Fayar ...

*Benoit, Marcelle (rep.) (1992)
''Dictionnaire de la musique en France aux XVII et XVIIIe siècles''
Paris, Fayard,

References

External links

*

on Musicologie.org
Gervais Francois Couperin, récit de cromorne by Éric Dalest
on YouTube
Gervais François Couperin
on Musicalics {{DEFAULTSORT:Couperin, Gervais-Francois French classical organists Musicians from Paris 1759 births 1826 deaths French Classical-period composers French male classical composers French male classical organists

Biography

Works

See also

Bibliography

References

External links