'Baroque man' was faced with the same choices that face us today:
choices between innovation and tradition, science and religion, the
group and the individual, and so on; the examples are endless.
Singing, as a source of elevation as much as of sensual pleasure, can
make the soul of the sinner, like a fragile funambulist, topple this
way or that, towards salvation on the one side or damnation on the other.The Jesuits, who were spiritual
directors to many staunch believers among the aristocracy, had no qualms in using the sensual pleasures of the
arts as instruments of salvation.
To structure this recording Alpha used the method recommended by the Jesuit Philippe d'Angoumois in his
Occupation continuelle en laquelle l'ame devote s'unit toujours avecque Dieu, a treatise written in 1618 for the use
of ladies of the aristocracy. In this work he advises them to meditate each day of the week on a religious
subject, in order to include the mysteries of spirituality in their daily routine. After a short catechism intended
for children and a severe condemnation of the lewd song, the programme follows that path, with prayers on
different themes for each day, thus creating an imaginary spiritual progression, as the soul seeks its salvation. In
this 'mystical week', the soul moves from meditation on its sins (Monday) to contemplation of the glories of
paradise (Sunday), from the fractures of the heart to inner healing, from primal Chaos to the Harmony of the
spheres.
Peter Philips: Les Rossignols spirituels
Les Rossignols spirituels: Qu'est-ce que la foi?
Pierre Guedron: A Paris sur petit pont (In Paris on the little bridge)
A Paris sur petit pont (In Paris on the little bridge)
La Pieuse alouette et des Odes Chretiennes
La Pieuse alouette et des Odes Chretiennes: Savez-vous quelle est cette astuce?
Pierre Guedron: L'Amphion sacre
L'Amphion sacre: Le Seigneur est mon flambeau
Antoine Boesset: La Philomele seraphique
La Philomele seraphique: O qu'un bonheur mondain
L'Amphion sacre
L'Amphion sacre: Si tu veux apprendre les pas a dancer, air d'apres Guedron
Etienne Moulinie: Dans le lit de la mort
Dans le lit de la mort
Odes Chretiennes: Que je veux mal a ce peintre fantasque
Que je veux mal a ce peintre fantasque
Lazare de Selve: Les oeuvres spirituelles
Les oeuvres spirituelles: Quand je pense, Seigneur
Pierre Guedron: Airs de differents autheurs mis en tablature de luth par G. Bataille
Airs de differents autheurs mis en tablature de luth par G. Bataille: Hola, Charon nautonier infernal
L'Amphion sacre
L'Amphion sacre: Vous a qui plaist la dance, air d'apres Gastoldi
Antoine Boesset: La Depouille d'Egypte
La Depouille d'Egypte: Ou va ce flambeau de ma vie?
La Philomele seraphique
La Philomele seraphique: Sortez, larmes sanglantes
La n'etaient que gibets
La n'etaient que gibets
La Philomele seraphique
La Philomele seraphique: Sortez, larmes sanglantes
L'Amphion sacre
L'Amphion sacre: O heureuse nuitee
Robert Ballard: La pieuse Alouette, Part 1
La pieuse Alouette, Part 1: Beni soit sur tout ce grand Dieu
Jean de La Ceppede: Les Theoremes
Les Theoremes: Blanc est le vetement
Pierre Guedron: La pieuse Alouette, Part 2
La pieuse Alouette, Part 2: Benis dieu, o mon ame
