François Couperin

1668 - 1733
François Couperin was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist.

📖 “Experience has taught me that hands that are strong and capable of executing that which is fastest and lightest are not always those which succeed best in the tender and sentimental pieces, and I would acknowledge in good faith that I like better what touches me than what surprises me.
The harpsichord is perfect when its sound is spread out and is brilliant by itself, but I would always gain greater pleasure from those who, by their art sustained by infinitely good taste, render this instrument susceptible of expression."
In Preface to the first book of Pièces de clavecin

📖 “As hardly anyone has composed more than myself … I hope that my family will find in my wallet something to make them regret my passing."
Pièces de clavecin, Book 4, Preface (1730)

📖 “The appropriate age for young children to begin is six or seven years; not that that excludes persons of more advanced age; but naturally, to mould and form the hands by exercises at the harpsichord, the sooner the better; and, as good grace is necessary, one must begin with the position of the body."
"L'âge propre à commencer Les enfants, est de six, à sept-ans: non pas que cela doive exclure Les personnes plus avancées: mais, naturellement, pour mouler; et former des mains à L'exercise du Clavecin, le plutôt, est le mieux; et comme la bonne-grâce y est nécessaire if faut commencer par la position du corps."
L'art de toucher le clavecin (1716)

📖 “Apart from the ornaments used, like trills, mordents, appoggiaturas, etc., I always make my pupils play little finger exercises, either diversified passages or batteries [broken chords or arpeggios] beginning with the simplest and on the most natural tones and gradually leading them to the fastest and most transposed ones. These little exercises cannot be too multiplied; they are like so many supports ready to be put into place and will serve on many occasions."
"Séparément des agréments usités, comme les tremblements, pincés, port-de-voix &c j'ay toujours fait faire à mes éléves de petites évolutions des doigts, soit de passages, ou de batteries diversifiées à commencer par les plus Simples, et Sur les tons les plus naturels; et insensiblement je les ay menés jusqu'aux plus Legers, et aux plus transposés; ces petits Exercices qu'on ne tout prêts à mettre en place; et qui peuvent Servir dans beaucoup d'occasions."
L'art de toucher le clavecin (1716)

📖 “Those persons who begin late or who have been badly taught, will need attention, as the muscles will perhaps be hardened, or perhaps they have acquired bad habits. Before sitting down at the harpsichord, they should loosen or have their fingers loosened by someone; … so that besides an understanding of movement, they will have greater freedom of movement."
"Les personnes qui commencent tard, ou qui ont été mal-montrées feront attention que comme les nerfs peuvent être endurcis, ou peuvent avoir pris de mauvais plis, elles doivent Se dénoüer, ou se faire dénoüer Les doigts par quelqu'un, avant que de Se méttre au clavecin; … cela met d'ailleurs les Esprits en mouvement; et l'on Se trouve plus de liberté."
L'art de toucher le clavecin (1716)

Quotes by François Couperin

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