- Couperin likely wrote his four Concerts royaux (Royal Suites) between 1714-15. The suites of pieces are grouped by key, similar to a dance suite.
- When publishing his scores in 1722, Couperin wrote, “I composed [these suites] for the small chamber concerts, where Louis XIV summoned me almost every Sunday of the year.” During Couperin’s tenure as royal organist for the court of Louis XIV, he also composed and performed on the harpsichord. Concerts royaux (Royal Suites) represents his duty to compose for the king’s entertainment in addition to sacred music for the royal chapel.1
- Click here to view the individual movements for all four suites (scroll to the bottom of the page).
Sources
- “Concerts royaux (Couperin, François),” IMSLP, accessed November 17, 2025, https://imslp.org/wiki/Concerts_royaux_(Couperin,_Fran%C3%A7ois).
Cut IDs
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