Campra: Messe de Requiem

Featuring

Philippe Herreweghe
La Chapelle Royale
La Chapelle Royale Choir
André Campra

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Interpretation

This recording uses a pitch of A=392, which was common at the time and is suitable for the work's grave character and the natural restitution of vocal ranges, particularly for the countertenor voice.

Composer Biography

André Campra, the composer, was born in 1660 to a musician father, who was a highly esteemed violinist.

Composition History

Campra's Messe de Requiem holds a unique place in his religious works, which primarily consist of Petit and Grand Motets, and its exact dating is uncertain due to a lack of documentation.

Composition History

The Messe de Requiem was likely composed between 1694 and 1700, during Campra's time at Notre-Dame in Paris.

Composer Biography

Campra, a man skilled in career advancement, used leaves of absence from his church positions to make contacts in Paris, leading to his appointment at Notre-Dame in 1694.

Compositional Technique

The vocal distribution of Campra's Messe de Requiem, primarily male voices and a male voice trio, suggests it was not commissioned for Versailles, where celebrated female opera singers were admitted.