Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Christmas mass, the "Messe de minuit", is throughly in the French tradition, celebrating the joyful news of the Birth of Christ with cheerful happiness. In this midnight mass, composed in 1694, ten traditional French Christmas hymns have been rearranged, lending the work dancelike energy, as well as charming tonal color. In independent movements the rather small instrumental ensemble consisting of two flutes, strings and organ plays a significant role in the musical events of this mass, alternating with various combinations of the voices. Solo voices are only used together in small ensembles and, in accordance with the practices of the period, the boundaries between solo ensemble and choir are fluid; thus these solo passages can also be sung by members of the choir.
- ISMN: 9790007171520 (M007171520)
