Composer: Nicolas Antoine Lebègue, Guillaume Gabriel Nivers
Performer: Nicolas Bucher, Maïlys de Villoutreys, Cécile Dalmon, Anaïs Bertrand, Danaé Monnié, Orelle Pralus
Format: FLAC (tracks)
Label: Château de Versailles Spectacles
Catalogue: CVS081
Release: 2022
Size: 1.17 GB
Recovery: +3%
Scan: yes
01. Premier Noël : A la Venue de Noël
02. Motet «Hodie Christus natus est»
03. Puer Nobis Nascitur
04. Or nous ditte Marie, pour la voix humaine
05. Simphonie en d La ré bécarre
06. Antienne «Tecum principium» et psaume «Dixit Dominus»
07. Offertoire du 3e ton
08. Première Elévation
09. Motet «Verbum Caro»
10. Elévation en G bécarre
11. Elévation en G bémol
12. Plain-chant en basse
13. «Tu lumen, tu splendor Patris»
14. Fugue grave
15. «Sic praesens testatur»
16. Basse de trompette
17. «Nos quoque»
18. Dialogue du premier ton
19. Tierce en taille
20. Trio à 3 claviers
21. Cornet du 6e ton en G Ré Sol bécarre
22. Offertoire du 5e ton
23. Antienne «Cum ortus»
24. Prélude – «Et exultavit»
25. Duo – «Quia fecit»
26. Basse de trompette – «Fecit potentiam»
27. Récit – «Esurientes implevit bonis»
28. Cornet – «Sicut locutus est»
29. Dialogue – «Sicut erat in principio»
30. Plein-Jeu – Reprise de l’antienne «Cum ortus»
31. Echo
32. Laissez paistre vos bestes
33. Cromorne en taille
34. Motet pour le Roy «Domine Salvum»
35. Ou s’en vont ces gays bergers
Nicolas Lebègue, the principal organist of King Louis XIV from 1678 until his death in 1702, represents the first state of perfection for the French organ. Alternating great virtuoso pieces worthy of the pomp of Versailles, inspired Noëls and poetic elevations, these Vêpres de Noël (“Christmas Vespers”) showcase the traditional alternation of vocal pieces, as practised by nuns in Paris, Port-Royal or the Filles-Dieu who attended to prisoners sentenced to death: Lebègue’s Motets for single voice, and the Plain-chant composed by Nivers for use in Paris. All the atmosphere of this “French-style” nativity is recreated with generosity and beauty under the direction of Nicolas Bucher, on the keys of the Great Organ of the Chapelle Royale.
This programme was recorded at the Royal Chapel of Versailles from 26th to 29th November 2021.