The most famous member of a family of excellent French musicians, Couperin was known as le grand to distinguish him from an uncle of the same name.
He officially succeeded his uncle and father as organist at St. Gervais church in Paris when he was eighteen. He enjoyed royal patronage under Louis XIV and, in 1693, was appointed royal organist and harpsichordist.



He won fame as a composer of sacred works and of music for the harpsichord. Couperin was greatly admired by Johann Sebastian Bach who arranged one of his trios for the organ.