Joseph Michel (composer)

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Joseph Michel (* 1679 in Bay-sur-Aube (today in the Haute-Marne department ), † 1736 ) was a French composer and organist.

Life

As a child, Joseph Michel attended the cathedral singing school of the Saint-Étienne collegiate church in Dijon. There he was a student of Pierre Menault, among others . In 1709 he took over the management of the Saint-Chapelle du Roi in Dijon (destroyed in 1802). His reputation went far beyond the borders of the city and Burgundy.

His Grand Motet Dominus regnavit was included in the repertoire of the “Chapelle du Roi” in Versailles and remained there until 1792. Michel's grand motets are characteristic of the second half of Louis XIV's reign. They comprise a large instrumental ensemble consisting of flutes, bassoon and a fifth -voiced string orchestra, (violon, hautes-contres, Tailles, Quintes et Basses de violon). The double choir consisted of 2 upper, alto, tenor and baritone parts for the soloists and upper part, alto, tenor, baritone and bass for the choir. In his later works one recognizes the emerging style gallantly . A letter archived in Versailles shows that Michel was supposed to be one of the band masters at the royal court; his untimely death prevented this appointment.

See also: Vingt-quatre Violons du Roy , for the composition of the French string orchestra.

Works (known)

  • Leçons de Ténèbres
  • Dominus regnavit exultet terra
  • Domine in virtute tua
  • Quid retribuam tibi

Individual evidence

  1. CV (1) on the website of the Center Musique Baroque de Versailles
  2. ^ Curriculum vitae (2) on the website of the Center Musique Baroque de Versailles