Couperin family

They were the most prolific family in French musical history, active during the Baroque era (17th—18th centuries).

A Beauvoir trader involved in legal and financial matters, Mathurin was also an amateur musician.

The family's breakthrough came around 1650, when Jacques Champion de Chambonnières, then harpsichordist to the King of France, was visiting Brie.

Le Parnasse François, a famous 1732 book by Évrard Titon du Tillet, contains an account of Chambonnières's visit: apparently Louis, François, and Charles visited Chambonnières on the Feast of Saint James—Chambonnières' name day—and offered the host and his guests a short concert, playing several pieces composed by Louis.

Louis was evidently a very successful and influential composer, but he died young, in 1661, and most of his compositions remained unpublished until the 20th century.