Le tic-toc-choc ou Les maillotins

One of Francois Couperin's most famous keyboard pieces, from his third book of 1722. The two hands cross and interlock continuously in a ticking, mechanical pattern that gives the piece its name. Couperin gave nearly all his harpsichord pieces enigmatic titles, some describing people, some moods, some jokes now impossible to decode. Brahms helped prepare the first modern complete edition of his works, and Ravel later wrote Le Tombeau de Couperin in homage.