Les Barricades mystérieuses by François Couperin (1668–1733) occupies a special place at the heart of the repertoire of French harpsichordists. The title is enigmatic, and it is a challenge. Couperin declared that his titles came from precise ideas but that he saw no necessity to explain them, so these Barricades have retained all their mystery. From the middle of the 19th century a renewed interest in Baroque art led to a re-emergence of Couperin’s harpsichord pieces, which were then performed on the piano. The present publication is part of this tradition, which has continued to the present day, of renowned performers playing Couperin on the piano.