Charpentier's Tenebrae Lessons for bass voice use subtle musical rhetoric, such as the voice rising on 'princeps provinciarum' (princes of provinces) and dropping on 'sub tributo' (made tributary), to emphasize the text's meaning.
Historical Context
The Tenebrae service involved extinguishing candles one by one, symbolizing the darkness that covered the earth when Jesus died on the cross.
Compositional Technique
Unlike his contemporary Lully, who often had assistants write inner parts, Charpentier meticulously composed all four parts of his counterpoint himself.
Recording & Production
This album was recorded in August 2011 at the Cistercian Abbey (Monastère Opactwo Cystersów) in Poland.
Interpretation
The performers on this album made practical decisions regarding the use of 'flûte' in Charpentier's scores, sometimes using a recorder and sometimes a transverse flute, depending on the musical context.
Composition History
The Tenebrae Lessons, which are featured on this album, were originally part of a religious service in the Catholic liturgy during Holy Week.
Composer Biography
Marc-Antoine Charpentier, the composer, was a singer himself and sometimes performed the haute-contre (high tenor) parts in his own compositions.
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