Offertoire (Paroisses)

This piece is played on a new Hauptwerk release of the organ at Waldkirchen and features its cornet, which Couperin specified in various combinations in his registrations.

The full title of the piece is Offertoire sur les grands jeux, Messe pour les paroisses (parish churches). This is the longer of Couperin's two Offertoires. I have always assumed its length was to allow the congregation plenty of time to give their money. In contrast, the Offertoire for the convents is much shorter, perhaps because the nuns had all made a vow of poverty.