Probably composed in 1690 the Messe de Minuït pour Noël H 9 is perhaps Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s best-known composition after the Te Deum H 146. The special appeal of this “Mass for the Midnight Service on Christmas Eve” lies in its use of no fewer than ten traditional French carols while impressively revealing Charpentier’s mastery of the concertante style.The eight solo vocalists (SSAATTBB) can easily be taken from the chorus. They are divided into three groups – one group of two sopranos and two groups each comprising alto tenor and bass – which interact with the chorusand instruments. This new edition represents the current state of scholarship and offers a completely revised Urtext of Charpentier’s masterpiece.- Urtext based on the latest scholarly research- Straightforward and easy-to-play keyboard reduction- Duration: approx. 25 minutes- Full score & parts (BA7592) and vocal score (BA7592-90) available for sale

Probably composed in 1690 the Messe de Minuït pour Noël H 9 is perhaps Marc-Antoine Charpentier’s best-known composition after the Te Deum H 146. The special appeal of this “Mass for the Midnight Service on Christmas Eve” lies in its use of no fewer than ten traditional French carols while impressively revealing Charpentier’s mastery of the concertante style.The eight solo vocalists (SSAATTBB) can easily be taken from the chorus. They are divided into three groups – one group of two sopranos and two groups each comprising alto tenor and bass – which interact with the chorusand instruments. This new edition represents the current state of scholarship and offers a completely revised Urtext of Charpentier’s masterpiece.- Urtext based on the latest scholarly research- Straightforward and easy-to-play keyboard reduction- Duration: approx. 25 minutes- Full score & parts (BA7592) and vocal score (BA7592-90) available for sale

Probably composed in 1690 the Messe de Minuït pour Noël H 9 is perhaps Marc-Antoine Charpentier?s best-known composition after the Te Deum H 146. The special appeal of this ?Mass for the Midnight Service on Christmas Eve? lies in its use of no fewer than ten traditional French carols while impressively revealing Charpentier?s mastery of the concertante style.The eight solo vocalists (SSAATTBB) can easily be taken from the chorus. They are divided into three groups ? one group of two sopranos and two groups each comprising alto tenor and bass ? which interact with the chorusand instruments. This new edition represents the current state of scholarship and offers a completely revised Urtext of Charpentier?s masterpiece.- Urtext based on the latest scholarly research- Straightforward and easy-to-play keyboard reduction- Duration: approx. 25 minutes- Full score and parts (BA7592) and vocal score (BA7592-90) available for sale

Charpentier composed ?In Nativitatem Domini Canticum? during his period as maître de musique at the church of St Louis in Paris (around 1690). It is in the tradition of the oratorios of Carissimi and his contemporaries but is more easily described as a ?Grand Motet? or ?Histoire sacrée? a genre in which Charpentier excelled. The work was probably intended for performance during mass on Christmas Day and thus had a liturgical function as was customary during the period of Louis XIV in Paris.The text presents the Christmas story in three sections: the chorus of the faithful the actual story of the birth of Jesus and the adoration ofthe shepherds in the fields. The music reveals a subtle mixture of French and Italian styles with dramatic elements.For the first time this work prepared by the acknowledged Charpentier expert Joel Schwindt is presented in a scholarly-critical edition where all sources have been consulted.A detailed foreword and critical commentary provide detailed information which fulfil all the criteria of an Urtext edition.- First Urtext edition of this work.- An important addition to the repertoire for Christmas.- Straightforward clear Piano reduction.- Foreword (Ger/Eng) and critical commentary (Eng).- Full score performance material (BA7673) & Vocal score (BA7673-90) available for sale.

Charpentier composa le nativitatem Domini Canticum pendant son mandat de maître de musique à l'église de Saint-Louis à Paris (vers 1690). Le travail était probablement destinée à la performance pendant la messe le jour de Noël et a donc une fonction liturgique comme c'était la coutume au cours de la période de Louis XIV à Paris. Le texte présente l'histoire de Noël en trois sections: le choeur des fidèles, l'histoire réelle de la naissance de Jésus et l'adoration des bergers dans les champs. La musique révèle un subtil mélange de styles franCais et italien avec des éléments dramatiques.Pour la première fois ce travail, préparé par le reconnu Charpentier expert Joel Schwindt, est présenté dans une édition savante critique où toutes les sources ont été consultées / Conducteur / Partition