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Clerambault: Chants et Motets /Mandrin, Les Demoiselles de Saint-Cyr
Emmanuel Mandrin, Les Demoiselles de Saint-Cyr
Clerambault: Chants et Motets /Mandrin, Les Demoiselles de Saint-Cyr
Genres: Pop, Classical
 
  •  Track Listings (12) - Disc #1

Just like Antonio Vivaldi in Venice, Nicolas Clérambault in Versailles was in charge of a well-known ensemble of musical young ladies. While Vivaldi was chapelmaster of a well-endowed orphanage, Clérambault wor...  more »

     
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CD Details

All Artists: Emmanuel Mandrin, Les Demoiselles de Saint-Cyr
Title: Clerambault: Chants et Motets /Mandrin, Les Demoiselles de Saint-Cyr
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: EMI Import
Release Date: 4/6/1999
Album Type: Import
Genres: Pop, Classical
Styles: Vocal Pop, Opera & Classical Vocal, Historical Periods, Baroque (c.1600-1750)
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 724356152922

Synopsis

Amazon.com
Just like Antonio Vivaldi in Venice, Nicolas Clérambault in Versailles was in charge of a well-known ensemble of musical young ladies. While Vivaldi was chapelmaster of a well-endowed orphanage, Clérambault worked at Saint-Cyr, a school for the daughters of impoverished noblemen founded by Madame de Maintenon (mistress of Louis XIV). The latter-day "Damsels of St.-Cyr" give flawless performances of some of Clérambault's motets, hymns and chants. (Yes, many French Baroque composers indeed composed plainchant in a French Baroque style.) The beginning of this record is a stunner: 30 seconds of unaccompanied unison singing that combines the purity of Gregorian chant with the graciousness of the French Baroque style, followed immediately by some spine-tingling suspensions at the opening of the penitential Psalm-motet Miserere. The remainder of the disc presents motets and chants for various parts of the liturgical year, all mixing elegance, piety, and (often) good cheer--only to finish with De profundis, a Psalm-motet for burial services as strikingly anguished in its way as the Miserere. --Matthew Westphal
 

CD Reviews

Stunning
scott | Calgary, Canada | 01/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here is a disc of such beauty that I cannot recommend it highly enough. The other reviewer has ably explained a bit about it, and I want to reinforce his opinion.



The Miserere (Psalm 50) has often been set very successfully, but this one here is one of the most beautiful. The texture of high female voices is quite unique to the French baroque, and is used to great advantage here. Clerambault's music has tremendous emotional power, and reflects the text effectively.



This is a release not to be missed."