François Couperin (born November 10, 1668,Paris, France—died September 11, 1733, Paris) was a French composer and harpsichordist, the most renowned of the Couperindynasty of 17th- and 18th-century musicians. He was the nephew ofLouis Couperin.

Although François Couperin was only 10 years old when his father, Charles Couperin, died, the wardens of the Church of Saint-Gervais in Paris reserved his father’s office of organist for him until he was 18. The boy took over the post before his 18th birthday and in 1693 became one of the four organists of the royal chapel. One honour followed another:harpsichord teacher to the royal children (1694) and the survivance (right to succeed) of Jean-Henri d’Anglebert as court harpsichordist (1717). By 1723 Couperin’s health obliged him to bestow the survivance at Saint-Gervais upon his cousin Nicolas, and in 1730 the d’Anglebert survivance went to his daughter Marguerite-Antoinette.

Like his uncle Louis, François is known above all for his harpsichordmusic. Between 1713 and 1730 he published four books ofsuites (ordres) for harpsichord. The movements of these suites have highly ornamented melodies and complex accompaniments, with frequentdialogues between treble and bass. Some of Couperin’s more than 200 harpsichord pieces are franklyprogrammatic. Couperin also wrote notablechamber music, includingtrio sonatas (for harpsichord and twoviolins) and theConcerts royaux (c. 1714–15), which he composed for the king’s Sunday evening entertainments. He also wrotemotets and otherchurch music. His last and greatest liturgical work, theLeçons de ténèbres (c. 1715), brings to the linear subtlety of the French vocal style and thepathos of Italianharmony a quality ofmysticism that has no parallel in the French or Italian music of the period.Johann Sebastian Bach knew Couperin’s work and copied it.

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