Gervais-François Couperin

Gervais-François Couperin (22 May 1759 – 11 March 1826) was a representative of the famous Couperin family of composers and organists.

Biography

Main Organ at the Paris Saint Gervais - Saint Protais church where the Couperin family played.

He studied with his father Armand-Louis Couperin. In 1789, Gervais-François replaced his father at the Sainte-Chapelle organ. Gervais-François succeeded his brother Pierre-Louis Couperin at Notre-Dame de Paris, a position he held until the Revolution. He was later an organist at St-Gervais-et-St-Protais and Saint-Merri (1818–1826).

He married Hélène Thérèse Frey, a singer, with whom he had a daughter, Céleste Thérèse (1793–1860),[1] who succeeded him briefly as the organist at St-Gervais-et-St-Protais. She became the last member of the Couperin musical dynasty.[2]

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.[3]

See also

Bibliography

  • Anthony, James R. (1997), French Baroque Music from Beaujoyeulx to Rameau, Portland, Amadeus Press
  • Beaussant, Philippe (1980), François Couperin, Paris, Fayard
  • Benoit, Marcelle (rep.) (1992), Dictionnaire de la musique en France aux XVII et XVIIIe siècles[permanent dead link], Paris, Fayard, ISBN 2-213-02824-9

References

Preceded by Organist at Notre Dame de Paris
1789–1793
Succeeded by