When the "king-citizen" Louis-Philippe came into power, the nobility who had always patronised artistic institutions were forced back and were gradually replaced in the theatre by the wealthy bourgeoisie. After having obtained his certificate in December 1830, de Coussemaker became a trainee in Dowaai, where in 1832 he took up the thread of his studies in counterpoint, with Victor Lefebvre. As he wished to elevate the level of religious music, in imitation of Alexandre-Étienne Choron, initiator of the renewal of the mastership from 1807 on, de Coussemaker wrote a Mass as well as different motets "a cappella": "Kyrie, Sanctus, O Salutaris" and "Agnus dei".