Marguerite-Louise Couperin
Marguerite-Louise Couperin (1675/76 or 1678/79 in
Versailles) was a French soprano[1] singer and harpsichordist, who came from the musically talented Couperin family dynasty. The Frenchman Évrard Titon du Tillet, in his 1732 book Le Parnasse françois, describes her as "one of the most celebrated musicians of our time, who sang with admirable taste and who played the harpsichord perfectly."[2]
Her music teacher was Jean-Baptiste Moreau (1656–1733).[3]
She was the cousin of the composer François Couperin (The Great)[4] and collaborated with him in performing soprano parts to his church vocal music compositions. The soprano parts written for her are exceptionally high and need great purity of tone.[5]
The Chapelle royale did not ordinarily permit women to take part in performances, instead using falsetti and castrati male artists. Such was her talent that an exception was made in her case, and also for the two daughters of Michel Richard Delalande, Marie-Anne and Jeanne.[6]
See also
- Marguerite-Antoinette Couperin (1705–1778) a younger cousin and also a talented harpsichordist.
References
- ISBN 978-0-385-14278-6.
- ^ du Tillet, Evrard Titon (1732). Le Parnasse François, dédié au Roi. Paris: Coignard.
- ISBN 0-19-816704-0.
- ISBN 0-674-37299-9.
Marguerite-Louise Couperin.
- ISBN 978-1-4067-0684-0.
- ISBN 0-89579-394-6.
Further reading
- "Marguerite-Louise Couperin". Dinnerparty database of notable women. Brooklyn Museum. 10 March 2007. Retrieved 25 November 2009.
- Randel, Don Michael, ed. (1996). The Harvard biographical dictionary of music. Harvard University Press reference library. Harvard University Press. pp. 181. ISBN 0-674-37299-9.
Marguerite-Louise Couperin.
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