Composer

:

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Average_duration

:

9:30

Marc-Antoine Charpentier's 'Première leçon de ténèbres du vendredi saint, H. 122' is a sacred vocal work composed in the 17th century. It was written for the liturgical service of Tenebrae, which is held on the evening of Maundy Thursday, Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. The piece was first performed in Paris in 1680. The work is divided into three movements, each corresponding to one of the three nocturnes of the Tenebrae service. The text is taken from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, which are traditionally read during the Tenebrae service. The first movement is set to the text of Lamentations 1:1-2, the second to Lamentations 1:3-5, and the third to Lamentations 1:6-9. Charpentier's setting of the text is characterized by its expressive use of dissonance and chromaticism. The music is highly emotional, reflecting the sorrow and despair of the text. The vocal lines are often highly ornamented, with frequent use of melisma and other decorative techniques. The accompaniment is sparse, consisting of a continuo part played on organ or harpsichord. The premiere of 'Première leçon de ténèbres du vendredi saint, H. 122' was a great success, and the work quickly became one of Charpentier's most popular compositions. It has since been performed and recorded by many ensembles, and is considered a masterpiece of Baroque sacred music.

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