Background
Couperin was born in Paris. His mother died when he was only 17 months old and he was raised by his father, Nicolas, also a composer and the successor to François "Le Grand" as organist at Saint Gervais Church in 1748.
Couperin was born in Paris. His mother died when he was only 17 months old and he was raised by his father, Nicolas, also a composer and the successor to François "Le Grand" as organist at Saint Gervais Church in 1748.
Nothing is known of Couperin"s education, though his library at the time of death contained 885 books, unusual for a musician and evidence of scholarly interest. His inheritance included Nicolas"s post at Saint Gervais. In 1752, Couperin married Elisabeth-Antoinette Blanchet, a professional musician and the daughter of the best harpsichord maker in France, François-Etienne Blanchet.
They had four children, three of whom became musicians.
Following his departure from Saint Gervais, Couperin"s many posts included Saint Barthélemy (to 1772), Street Jean-en-Grève, the convent of the Carmes-Billettes, Notre Dame (from 1755), the Sainte Chapelle (from 1760), Sainte Marguerite, and the royal chapel (from 1770). Couperin died at age 61 in Paris in a traffic accident while hurrying from Vespers at Ste.
Chapelle to Saint Gervais.