Étienne Richard

In 1651 he succeeded his father as organist of the Church of Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs in Paris, working together with Nicolas Gigault.

[1] Although he was exceptionally well regarded at the court, only a few works by Richard survive (and some could be attributed to Charles, Pierre, or another member of either of the two Richard families of musicians that were active in Paris at the time[1]): two organ preludes, four allemandes, 3 courantes, two sarabandes and two gigues, which came to us through the Bauyn manuscript.

These pieces all show Richard as an excellent composer who had thoroughly mastered counterpoint and harmony.

[2] Of the dance movements, the allemandes are historically important for showing the beginnings of the ornamented style that later French composers used extensively.

The gigues exhibit unusual characteristics: one is written in the typical triple metre, but closes with a refrain in 2/2 time.