Chapelle Royal
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Versailles, the sun of Yvelines

Chapelle Royale – Music for French cathedrals in the 17th century

78000 Versailles

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With the Pages and the Singers of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, Fabien Armengaud brings back to life the most beautiful works from the Tours and Deslauriers manuscripts, like a journey through the provinces of the Kingdom in the 17th century.

With the Pages et Chantres of the Centre de musique baroque de Versailles, Fabien Armengaud brings back to life the most beautiful works from the Tours and Deslauriers manuscripts, like a journey through the provinces of the Kingdom in the 17th century.



The Tours and Deslauriers manuscripts contain more than three hundred pieces and are an essential testimony to French Baroque music of the early 17th century. Most of the pieces are intended for cathedral choirs and were probably composed in the south of the kingdom. But these two manuscripts also have their share of mystery. While a few pieces can be attributed to Bouzignac, Boësset and Moulinié, most of the composers remain anonymous.


Is this the work of a musician who, throughout his life, collected the works he found most interesting? Or were they the finest pieces to have won the competitions of the time, known as the Puys de musique?



The mystery remains. But one thing is certain, and that is the quality and variety of the writing in this music. From impressively theatrical sacred stories to motets of unspeakable sensuality inspired by the Song of Songs. But also descriptive pieces like a garden of delights, from the cedars of Lebanon to bouquets of myrrh and the roses of Saron. A unique testimony to the sacred music of the period, these collections are the Rosetta stone of the early French 17th century, providing a fascinating insight into this fascinating period.

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Versailles, the sun of Yvelines

Chapelle Royale

Place d'Armes Château de Versailles

78000 Versailles

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