A systematic documentation analysis of Francois Couperin's French-style keyboard music performance

This research investigates the keyboard music of François Couperin le Grand through multiple perspectives, highlighting his significance as one of the leading composers of the French Baroque era. Couperin’s body of work includes chamber music, organ compositions, secular and sacred vocal pieces, but his keyboard music stands out as the most refined and influential. These works are notable for their elegance, structural clarity, and rich ornamentation. They reflect the opulent court culture of the Bourbon dynasty while simultaneously capturing the spirit of rural French life in the 17th and 18th centuries depicting scenes of dancing, singing, and pastoral sounds such as bagpipes and hunting horns. His style offers a distinct contrast to the German Baroque tradition, positioning him as a unique and innovative figure in European music history. Despite his historical importance, Couperin remains relatively underrepresented in modern scholarship and performance. His music is seldom played, and comprehensive academic studies particularly in non-Western contexts such as mainland China are limited. To date, none of his works have been officially translated or published there. This research aims to address this gap by offering a deeper understanding of Couperin’s artistic legacy and promoting broader appreciation of his keyboard music. Qualitative methodology is adopted in order to incorporate music analysis, literature review, and analogy study for this research. The outcome of this research cites non-musical art forms to support and explore the musical content of the subject matter. Key areas of finding include the historical background of Couperin’s era, the influence of dance forms, the formal structures of his compositions, and his elaborate use of ornamentation. These elements are examined to uncover the deeper aesthetic and stylistic features of his music. This research concludes with detailed analyses of selected keyboard pieces to support performers and scholars in interpreting Couperin’s works more insightfully, revealing the expressive nuances and artistic richness that define his unique musical works