Pierre Menault

Pierre Menault (* 1642 in Beaune , † 1694 in Dijon ) was a French composer and conductor.

Life

Pierre Menault was the child of a modest working-class family who worked in viticulture. He was fortunate enough to be accepted into the "Collégiale Notre-Dame" school when he was eight. Here he received music lessons from the two band masters Jacques Huyn (1613–1652) and Guillaume Truffot . This institution was a very successful training center from its foundation in 1419 until the Revolution, as numerous well-known musicians emerged from it.

One quickly became aware of Pierre Menault's musical abilities. Therefore, he received additional instruction from the best available professionals. Among other things, it was the organist Claude Chanet who taught him to play the organ, the "Manichordion" (old French name for clavichord ) and the harpsichord. Menault left the school in 1660. For the next 10 years it is known that he held the position of Kapellmeister at the Cathedral of Châlons-sur-Marne . It was not until 1671 that he returned to work in his hometown. After a second stay in Châlons from 1676 to 1687 he became Kapellmeister at Saint-Étienne in Dijon, where musical life was very varied in the late 17th century. When Menault took up his position, Jean Rameau , father of Jean-Philippe Rameau, was the organist. It is likely that the young Rameau sought the advice of Kapellmeister Menault.

Joseph Michel (1679–1736) is one of the most important of the musicians Menault trained in Dijon .

Works

The works that have survived to this day include the following compositions printed between 1676 and 1693:

• Missa "O felix parens", 1676
• Missa "Tu es spes mea", 1686
• Missa "Ave senior Stephane", 1687
• Missa "Ferte rosas", 1691
• Missa "Date lilia", 1692
• Vespres à deux choeurs avec symphonies, 1693 ( Vespers for two choirs and instrumental ensemble)

Web links

Menault's curriculum vitae and work description on the website of the Center musique baroque de Versailles (in French)