François Couperin - L'Art de toucher le Clavecin

Couperin published a theoretical treatise on harpsichord playing, L’Art de toucher le clavecin, in two editions in 1716 and 1717. In the treatise, he also included some instructional pieces: one allemande and a series of eight preludes. The quasi-improvisatory pieces are intended as preparatory tools or warm-up exercises for Couperin’s other music, but are also musical gems in their own right, of a quality quite comparable with the preludes of Bach.