“Sanctus” from Messe propre pour les Couvents by François Couperin [1690] performed by Pierre-Yves Asselin [1984]

In 1690, at the ripe old age of 22, François Couperin composed two masses for organ that remain among the most famous works of French organ music. They immediately brought notice that the young Couperin had the potential to surpass the status of his many talented musical relatives.

This recording by Canadian-born organist Pierre-Yves Asselin includes interspersed readings, just as the Santcus portion of the mass would have been performed in the late 17th century. Moreover, the organ you hear is an original French Baroque organ from the church of Saint Christopher in the French Town of Houdan (see below), built by L.A. Clicquot in 1734. (Info taken from the liner notes to the album 10 Glorious Organs in Europe.)

(images via)

Simply beautiful. (See also this humorous anecdote.)