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Charpentier and Christmas

Lucie Skeaping explores music by Marc-Antoine Charpentier, who wrote arguably some of the most engaging Christmas music of the French baroque, including the Messe de Minuit.

Lucie Skeaping's thoughts turn to Marc Antoine Charpentier who wrote some of the most engaging Christmas music of the French Baroque including the celebrated Messe de Minuit - a midnight mass for Christmas Eve based on popular French carols.

A remarkably gifted composer from the reign of Louis XIV, Charpentier spent much of his life pushed into the shadows by the all-powerful and controlling Jean-Baptiste Lully. Much of his life was spent in the service of Mlle de Guise and for the Jesuit College in Paris for whom he wrote many of his wonderful Christmas pieces inspired by popular French carols.

1 hour

Last on

Christmas Eve 2011 13:00

Music Played

  • Traditional arr. Charpentier

    Joseph est bien mari茅 (instrumental), H534

    Performers: Aradia Ensemble, Kevin Mallon (director)

    • NAXOS.
    • 8.554514.
  • Traditional arr. Aradia Ensemble

    Joseph est bien mari茅 (organ), H534

    Performer: Christopher Dawes (organ)

    • NAXOS.
    • 8.554514.
  • Traditional arr. Charpentier

    Joseph est bien mari茅, H534

    Performers: Aradia Ensemble, Kevin Mallon (director)

    • NAXOS.
    • 8.554514.
  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    In Nativitatum DNJC Canticum 鈥 Air d'un berger et choeur "Salve puerile" H414

    Performers: Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (director)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901082.
  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    Pastorale sur la naissance de NS Jesus-Christ, H483: Ritournelle 鈥 and Scene 2

    Performers: Les Arts Florissants, William Christie (director)

    • HARMONIA MUNDI.
    • HMC 901082.
  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    Une jeune pucelle (vocal/instrumental), H534

    Performers: Aradia Ensemble, Kevin Mallon (director)

    • NAXOS.
    • 8.554514.
  • Marc鈥怉ntoine Charpentier

    Messe de minuit, H9

    Performers: Les Musiciens du Louvre, Marc Minkowski (director)

    • ARCHIV.
    • 453 479-2.

Broadcast

  • Christmas Eve 2011 13:00

Podcast