Marguerite-Louise Couperin

Marguerite-Louise Couperin (born 1675/76 or 1678/79, Paris – died 1728, 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

1. ^ Greene, David Mason (2007). Greene's biographical encyclopedia of composers. Reproducing Piano Roll Fnd.. pp. 199. ISBN 0385142781. 
2. ^ "Marguerite-Louise Couperin". Dinnerparty database of notable women. Brooklyn Museum. 10 March 2007. http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/marguerite_louise_couperin.php. Retrieved 25 November 2009. 
3. ^ Sadie, Julie Anne (1998). Companion to Baroque Music. Oxford University Press US. pp. 134. ISBN 0198167040. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=rskiYf4mn7wC&pg=PA134&dq=%22Marguerite-Louise+Couperin%22+teacher&ei=38MOS-7bCIz0NPetmfYK#v=onepage&q=%22Marguerite-Louise%20Couperin%22%20teacher&f=false. 
4. ^ Randel, Don Michael (ed) (1996). The Harvard biographical dictionary of music. Harvard University Press reference library. Harvard University Press. pp. 181. ISBN 0674372999. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9fjl7NhMmWwC&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&dq=Marguerite-Louise+Couperin&source=bl&ots=HQwArV4sMd&sig=Q89Btke9p-NjCCXWmS2onLdhKLQ&hl=en&ei=1pkNS9b0E8eA4Qaa6KGOBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CCEQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=Marguerite-Louise%20Couperin&f=false. 
5. ^ Mellers, Wilfrid (2007). Francois Couperin and the French Classical Tradition. READ BOOKS. pp. 330. ISBN 1406706841. http://books.google.com/books?id=4KVjT47UWiQC&pg=PA330&sig=APvze37p8hVXJH5cbZ1d02_u8zU#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 
6. ^ Montagnier, Jean-Paul (1998). Super flumina Babilonis of Recent reseaches in the music of the Baroque Era. Volume 84. A-R Editions, Inc.. pp. ix. ISBN 0895793946. http://books.google.com/books?id=rMtp4oilb-MC&pg=PP11&sig=0tGZgUlNedaa0JviD7v2gP8itqg#v=onepage&q=&f=false. 

• "Marguerite-Louise Couperin". Dinnerparty database of notable women. Brooklyn Museum. 10 March 2007. http://www.brooklynmuseum.org/eascfa/dinner_party/heritage_floor/marguerite_louise_couperin.php. 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 0674372999. http://books.google.co.uk/books?id=9fjl7NhMmWwC&pg=PA181&lpg=PA181&dq=Marguerite-Louise+Couperin&source=bl&ots=HQwArV4sMd&sig=Q89Btke9p-NjCCXWmS2onLdhKLQ&hl=en&ei=1pkNS9b0E8eA4Qaa6KGOBA&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=7&ved=0CCEQ6AEwBjgK#v=onepage&q=Marguerite-Louise%20Couperin&f=false. 

Persondata
Name	Couperin, Marguerite-Louise
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth
Place of birth
Date of death	1728
Place of death