Gratuitous Llama Musickal Review

Over the weekend I listened to my brand new recording of a Te Deum composed by Michel Richard Delalande around 1685. Delalande was director of the Chapel Royale at Versailles and composed the piece for Louis XIV.

Frankly, I found the work to be a bit on the thin side. It was certainly grand enough, as befitting its royal intent. And I appreciate its overall structure. But nonetheless I never got the sense of any real meat beyond the surface. I don't pretend to know that much about French composers under the Sun King, and I'd much rayther listen to third rate Baroque musick than anything but the best of just about any other period, but I confess frankly that my attention wandered away from the musick after a relatively short time.

The recording is by Les Arts Florissants Orchestra and Chorus under the direction of William Christie, a top-notch Baroque group, perhaps the best in France. Nonetheless, as I listened to the piece, I was increasingly annoyed by the French handling of Latin pronunciations. For example, the simple word "tu" (you), pronounced just as it's written by the sensible Romans, comes out sounding like "thiew". I suppose it is some testiment to the impression the music left on me that half my summary should focus on such an arcane matter, but there it is.

Posted by: Robert at 01:48 PM

Comments

1 While on the topic of 17th c. musick, I've been meaning to thank you for the tip on Heinrich Schutz, especially "Saul, Saul." That piece still raises goosebumps, and I've listened to it a bunch of times in the last couple weeks.

Posted by: ScurvyOaks at November 13, 2007 02:08 PM (s7sYI)

2 My pleasure, although I believe it was Hucbald who originally reminded me.

Some kind of amazing, ain't it.

Posted by: Robbo the LB at November 13, 2007 02:22 PM (0JsTF)

3 Are you by any chance familiar with Froberger or Böm? They are both cited as influences on JS Bach, and their organ works are really interesting. I have only recently discovered them and they are quite listenable for "early" music.

Posted by: JohnL at November 13, 2007 05:30 PM (YVul2)

4 Dang html. Böhm. Böhm.

Posted by: JohnL at November 13, 2007 05:30 PM (YVul2)

5 LOL at JohnL! ;^)

I'm re-discovering Cesar Franck right now. I wasn't ready for him last time I attempted a listen, but I ran into some MIDI files of his organ works at a sheet music PDF archive the other day that just knocked my socks off.

Posted by: Hucbald at November 14, 2007 04:06 AM (fPZGt)

6 JohnL - I've heard the name Froberger but don't know his music. The only Böhm I know is the mid-20th Century conductor, although it is completely possible that he is a descendant of the earlier composer.

Guess I'll have to check these guys out. Thanks....

Posted by: Robbo the LB at November 14, 2007 09:10 AM (0JsTF)

7 I'm sure you can find this on your own, but some helpful leads:

Wikipedia on JJ Froberger.

Wikipedia on Georg Böhm.

Böhm's Prelude and Fugue in C is a good one to search out first (I got a couple different versions off iTunes). It reminds me a bit of Bach's P&F in D (BWV 532). Virtuosic pedal runs interleaved with happy keyboard work.

Posted by: JohnL at November 14, 2007 03:45 PM (Hs4rn)

8 YouTube is also an interesting hit-or-miss place to find performances of obscure music:

Froberger transcribed for guitar. (Hucbald may like this one).

Froberger Allemande on a piano.

Boehm's P&F in C on a digital organ emulator setup.

Posted by: JohnL at November 14, 2007 03:57 PM (Hs4rn)

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