| Operas by Marc-Antoine Charpentier |
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 Le Malade imaginaire (1673) |
Les arts florissants (H. Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 - February 24 1704 was a French composer of the Baroque era Le Malade imaginaire (roughly The Hypochondriac or The Imaginary Invalid) is a play and the last work by Molière. Les plaisirs de Versailles (English The Pleasures of Versailles) is a short Opera (or divertissement) by the French composer Actéon ( Actaeon) is a Pastorale in the form of a miniature Tragédie en musique in six scenes by Marc-Antoine Charpentier La descente d'Orphée aux enfers (English The Descent of Orpheus to the Underworld) is a Chamber opera in two acts by the French composer David et Jonathas ( David and Jonathan) is an Opera in five acts and a prologue by the French composer Marc-Antoine Charpentier, first Médée is a tragédie mise en musique in five acts and a prologue by Marc-Antoine Charpentier to a French Libretto by Thomas 487) is a short chamber opera (also described by the composer as idyle en musique) in five scenes by Marc-Antoine Charpentier. Chamber opera is a designation for Operas written to be performed with a chamber ensemble rather than a full Orchestra. A composer (literally meaning 'one who puts together' is a person who creates Music, usually in the medium of notation, for Interpretation and Performance Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 - February 24 1704 was a French composer of the Baroque era
Contents |
History
It was written around 1685 for the group of musicians employed by Marie de Lorraine, Duchess of Guise, a cousin of Louis XIV, at her residence in Paris. Count of Guise and Duke of Guise were titles in the French nobility Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent Paris (ˈpærɨs in English; in French) is the Capital of France and the country's largest city The French libretto, written by an unknown author, is allegorical in nature and draws on aspects of mythological and natural symbolism familiar to 17th-century audiences to add depth to a superficially simple plot. This article is about the country For a topic outline on this subject see List of basic France topics. A libretto is the text used in an extended Musical work such as an Opera, Operetta, Masque, sacred or secular Oratorio and
The story of the opera concerns the eponymous Arts, shown flourishing under the beneficent and peaceful reign of Louis XIV, as they and a group of Warriors become drawn into a dispute between the central characters of La paix (Peace) and La discorde (Discord). Opera is an art form in which Singers and Musicians perform a Dramatic work (called an opera which combines a text (called a Libretto Early years Birth and ancestry Louis XIV was born in the Château de Saint-Germain-en-Laye on September 5 1638 and bore the Heir apparent After a brief struggle in which Discord and his Furies gain the upper hand, Peace appeals to Jupiter to intervene on her behalf. In Greek mythology the Erinyes (Ἐρινύες pl of Ἐρινύς lit In Roman mythology, Jupiter was the king of the gods and the god of Sky and Thunder. Discord and his followers are chased back into Hell by a hail of thunderbolts, and Peace holds sway once more. Hades (from Greek, Hadēs, originally, Haidēs or, Aidēs, probably from Indo-European *n̥-wid- 'unseen' refers both to the ancient
Analysis
The opera is scored for seven solo voices, five-part chorus, two flutes (or recorders), two treble viols and basso continuo. For the musical composition see Chorale. A choir, chorale, or chorus is a Musical ensemble of Singers The Western concert flute or C flute (most flutes are tuned to the key of C) is a popular transverse side-blown Musical instrument made of metal The recorder is a woodwind Musical instrument of the family known as Fipple Flutes ' or internal duct flutes &mdash whistle-like The viol (also called viola da gamba) is any one of a family of bowed, Fretted stringed Musical instruments developed in the 1400s Figured bass, or thoroughbass, is a kind of integer Musical notation used to indicate intervals, chords and Nonchord tones in relation
The manuscript score also calls for two choruses in the form of a Troupe de Guerriers (Troop of Warriors) and a Choeur de Furies chantantes (Chorus of singing Furies), to be sung by all available singers,[1] and a troupe of Furies dansantes, si l'on veut (Dancing Furies, "if desired"). In Greek mythology the Erinyes (Ἐρινύες pl of Ἐρινύς lit In Greek mythology the Erinyes (Ἐρινύες pl of Ἐρινύς lit The instrumentalists are included in the original character list under the entry Suite de la Musique, and the overture is labelled pour les symphonistes de la Suite de la Musique ("for the orchestral players in Music's following").
Roles
| Role | Voice type | Premiere Cast, 1685 (Conductor: - ) |
|---|---|---|
| La Musique, Music | soprano | Jacqueline-Geneviève de Brion |
| La Poésie, Poetry | soprano | Antoinette Talon |
| La Peinture, Painting | haute-contre | Marc-Antoine Charpentier |
| L'Architecture, Architecture | mezzo-soprano | Marie Guilbault de Grandmaison |
| La Discorde, Discord | bass | Pierre Beaupuis |
| La Paix, Peace | soprano | Elisabeth "Isabelle" Thorin |
| Un Guerrier, A Warrior | baritone | Germain Carlier |
Selected recordings
- Charpentier: Les Arts florissants / William Christie, Les Arts Florissants CD. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. The haute-contre is a rare type of high Tenor voice predominant in French Baroque and Classical opera until the latter part of the eighteenth century This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. This article is related to a series of articles under the main article Voice type. Les Arts Florissants is a Baroque ensemble of singers and musicians founded in 1979 by William Christie and based in France. Harmonia Mundi Musique d'Abord (1999). "Harmonia Mundi" is also the title of a track on Mike Oldfield 's Music of the Spheres album Year 1999 ( MCMXCIX) was a Common year starting on Friday (link will display full 1999 Gregorian calendar) Catalog# 1901083. (not widely available)
Bibliography
- Marc-Antoine Charpentier: "Les Arts florissans", Marc-Antoine Charpentier: Oeuvres complètes, ser. Marc-Antoine Charpentier (1643 - February 24 1704 was a French composer of the Baroque era I vol. 7 (facs. ), ed. H. Wiley Hitchcock (Paris: Minkoff France, 1996) 120-164
References
- ^ The vocal forces usually employed by Marie de Lorraine (Hitchcock suggests there were never more than fourteen singers at a time, and usually fewer) would otherwise have been too small to make this proliferation of choruses feasible. In Charpentier's manuscript, the various vocal lines of each chorus are labelled with the names of the seven soloists, which would seem to confirm that they were required to double as both choruses. See Hitchcock and Charpentier.
External links
- H. Wiley Hitchcock: "Marc-Antoine Charpentier 1. Life", Grove Music Online ed. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an Encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians L. Macy (Accessed August 25, 2006), www.grovemusic.com (subscription access)
- John S. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Powell: "Les Arts florissants", Grove Music Online ed. The Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians is an Encyclopedic dictionary of music and musicians L. Macy (Accessed August 25, 2006), www.grovemusic.com (subscription access)
- Patricia M. Events 1248 - The Dutch city of Ommen receives city rights and fortification rights from Otto III the Year 2006 ( MMVI) was a Common year starting on Sunday of the Gregorian calendar. Ranum: "The 'Guise Music': some thumbnail sketches of the members of Mlle de Guise's ensemble", Ranums' Panat Times website (Accessed August 25, 2006), www.ranumspanat.com/guise_music.html
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