Composer

:

Marc-Antoine Charpentier

Genre

:

Choral

Style

:

Choral

Compose Date

:

1680

Average_duration

:

12:15

Marc-Antoine Charpentier's 'Troisième leçon de ténèbres du mercerdi saint, H. 110' is a sacred vocal work composed in the 17th century. It was written for the liturgical service of Tenebrae, which is a series of services held during Holy Week in the Catholic Church. The work is scored for two voices, a soprano and a bass, and is accompanied by a basso continuo. The composition of 'Troisième leçon de ténèbres du mercerdi saint, H. 110' is believed to have taken place in the early 1680s. The exact date of composition is not known, but it is believed to have been written during Charpentier's time as the maître de musique at the Jesuit Church of Saint-Louis in Paris. The work was first performed during the Tenebrae service on Wednesday of Holy Week, which is known as the mercerdi saint in French. 'Troisième leçon de ténèbres du mercerdi saint, H. 110' is divided into three movements, each corresponding to one of the three readings from the Lamentations of Jeremiah that are traditionally read during the Tenebrae service. The first movement is a setting of the third Lamentation, the second movement is a setting of the fourth Lamentation, and the third movement is a setting of the fifth Lamentation. The characteristics of 'Troisième leçon de ténèbres du mercerdi saint, H. 110' are typical of Charpentier's style. The work is characterized by its expressive use of dissonance, its use of chromaticism, and its use of ornamentation. The vocal lines are highly ornamented, with frequent use of trills, mordents, and other embellishments. The basso continuo provides a rich harmonic foundation for the vocal lines, with frequent use of suspensions and other dissonances. Overall, 'Troisième leçon de ténèbres du mercerdi saint, H. 110' is a beautiful and expressive work that captures the solemnity and emotion of the Tenebrae service. Its intricate vocal lines and rich harmonies make it a masterpiece of Baroque sacred music.

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