Étienne Moulinié and Gaston d'Orleans

Étienne Moulinié. Court composer of Gaston d'Orleans

Before genre of opera came to France the aristocracy practiced singing with court aria (air de cour) or - courteous aria. Story of air de cour began with a lute song of 16th century. There are three main composers, who played an important role in history of development and becoming of this genre:

Pierre Guedron (1565-1620). He wrote music for Henry IV and Maria Medici.
Antoine Boesset (1587-1643) - court composer of Louis XIII.
Étienne Moulinié (1599-1676) - the musician of Gaston, Duke of Orleans, the only brother of the king Louis XIII.

Gaston of Orleans was an eccentric and unrestrained person and it was the reason of many arguments between him and his brother Louis XIII. So, because of this, Louis XIII was repeatedly sending his brother away from the Royal court. The Duke was leaving to his ownership, where he had his own court; there he was spending some time until he made peace with the King. Then he was coming back to Paris, where he could spend time till the next argument and next exile.

Etienne Moulinie - French composer of baroque era, he was born in October 10, 1599 in Languedoc. Serving at the court of Gaston d’Orleans, Moulinie composed church and secular music, also he wrote music for the ballets, which were performed at Gaston d’Orleans court. A number of ballet were staged at the court of Gaston and most of them had ridiculous plots, for example, how a fool taught a philosopher or a patient healed a doctor etc.

Etienne Moulinie is quite known, first of all, as a creator of court arias, among which there were two on Gascon language, written especially for the Duke.

Etienne Moulinie was serving at Duke d’Orleans court until 1660. After the service for king’s brother, the composer came back to Languedoc, where he died in 1676.

Author: Alisia Holainen
Page on Facebook - Musique de Cour

Instagram - #musiquedecour

Comments

Francesco Bernandi - great Senesino

Francesco Bernardi, known as Senesino, was an opera star of his era. The singer had a marvelous strong voice, he was a public favourite, earned (according to that time) a lot of money. For a long time he collaborated with Maestro Handel, who wrote for him many great roles. Francesco Bernardi was born in 1686, in Siennese barber’s family. His music education, and music career as well, began when he joined the cathedral choir in Siena. Senesino made his stage debut in Venice in 1707, but he was found as an opera singer after his Dresden debut in Lotti’s Giove in Argo (1717). In 1720 Senesino sang in Heinichen’s opera - Flavio Criso. Based on history, the singer met Handel in Dresden, when the composer came there looking for singers for the Royal Academy in London. For the very first Maestro listened Senesino in 1719, in Lotti’s opera Teofane. Apparently, the offer Handel made to Senesino was so good, that Senesino couldn’t refuse it. So, he became an “official” singer of the Ro

Lully. Opera arias for soprano

1. Acis & Galatée - Qu'une injuste fierté (Chaconne) (act 2, scene 5) 2. Amadis - Toi, qui dans ce tombeau, aria of Arcabonne (act 3, scene 3) 3. Amadis - Que vois-je ! Ô spectacle effroyable? - Oriane's aria (act 4, scene 4) 4. Armide - Enfin, il es en ma puissance. Armida's aria (act 2, scene 5) 5. Atys - Espoir si cher et si doux (act 3, scene 8) 6. Cadmus et Hermione. Hermione's aria from act 2, scene 5 Author: Alisia Holainen

Music History. Vocal music

Madrigal Madrigal (it. Madrigale from Latin matricale ). Form of vocal chamber music, the number of voices varies from two to eight, and most frequently from three to six; the musical form reflecting the structure of the poem. Usually, the main subject of madrigal is love story. Madrigal was really popular during Renaissance period. Motet Motet (French motet from Latin motetus ) - style of vocal composition with polyphonic structure. Typically, it is a Latin religious choral composition, yet it can be a secular composition or a work for soloist and instrumental accompaniment, in any language, with or without a choir. Chanson Chanson - French song of Medieval and Renaissance period. Usually, it was written for one solois and one instrument. Almost all chansons were written in Rondo, ballad or virelai form. Main subject - courtly love. Chanson was favourite genre of troubadours in 13 - 14th century. Organum Organum is an early Medieval form of plainsong, or plainc

Musique de Cour

Search This Blog