French composer and harpsichordist who is thought to be the founder of the Clasical French Harpsichord School. (This is still a moot point as the development seems to have occurred in conjunction with rise of the French Lute school.) His playing talents on the harpsichord were acceeded by few if any. He may have first made an appearance in the court of Louis XIII; he was definitely commissioned by the regent Queen Anne to purchase the instrument for her son Louis XIV. His fame became so widespread that the Couperin brothers sang for him on his Christening day in c.1650. He was dismissed from his position at court for not being able to accompany from a bass line. Although he lived his later life in disgrace his legacy was maintained by his students; the Couperins, d'Anglebert, Gautiers, Hardel, et al. Qualities of his pieces include a certitude in style, dynamic rhythms, an easy ebb-and-flow of melodic ascension and descension, a keen awarenss of counterpoint and, perhaps, an over-abundance of embellishment. The primary genres of his music were song and dance types which were demanded by courtly patrons. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi