Couperin & Lalande: Leçons de Ténèbres (Lessons of Darkness)

The Office of Tenebrae was extremely popular in France in the 17th and 18th centuries. It was tightly structured and also had a true theatrical dimension, notably through the use of light and the gradual extinguishing of a candle after each lesson. The three Lessons of Darkness (Leçons de Ténèbres) by François Couperin are a skillful blend of theatrical writing that expresses the extremely poignant text of the Lamentations of Jeremiah with haunting recitations of Hebrew letters (Aleph, Beth, Caph...). This music is often associated with the female voices of convents and abbeys although religious houses for men such as the Jesuit houses also celebrated the Tenebrae with music. Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas has chosen to record this program with male voices, a choice that reveals unexpected new colors and textures in the music. The album also includes Lalande's Miserere, again with male voices: haute-contre, taille and basse. Paco Garcia, Tenor (Tracks 2–8, 23–31) Étienne Bazola, Varitone (Tracks 10–14) Ensemble Les Surprises Louis-Noël Bestion de Camboulas Juliette Guignard, Viola da Gamba Étienne Galletier, Theorbo Louis-Noël Bestion, Harpsichord, Organ & Direction Men's Choir (Tracks 1, 15, 22–30) Paco Garcia, Tenor Stephen Collardelle, Tenor Antoine Ageorges, Tenor Romain Bazola, Tenor Étienne Bazola, Baritone François Joron, Baritone Thierry Cartier, Baritone