Guillaume Minoret
Encyclopedia
Guillaume Minoret was a French baroque composer.
He was of the generation of Marc-Antoine Charpentier
, but unlike him only a small part of his œuvre survives. Minoret famously won one of the four rotating annual positions for sous-maîtres at the Chapelle royale
in 1683, organised by Louis XIV following the retirement of Henry Du Mont and Pierre Robert
. Unfortunately compared to both de Lalande, who won the most prestiguous Christmas turn of the four positions, and Pascal Collasse
who in most opinions came second, Minoret and his colleague Nicolas Coupillet have been consigned by music historians to the roles of musical mediocrities. Prior to the competition he had been maître de chapelle at Orléans Cathedral since 1679.
. Around twenty years old, he then became master of music (maître de chapelle) at the cathédrale de Rodez, then at Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, succeeding the composer Étienne Moulinié
. On 26 April 1679 he was made master of the music at the cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans
, but did not stay there long and left around the start of September - his successor Pierre Tabart
was installed on 9 November the same year. This provincial cathedral's music was of high quality - ten years earlier, on 14 September 1669, for the anniversary of the church's dedication, Claude Perrault
(brother of the conteur), noted in his Relation du Voyage de Paris à Bordeaux "At Holy Cross [...] we heard music that was very good and which, today, is second only to that at Notre-Dame de Paris". The master was then Philippe Martinot, who was retired as too old on 14 January 1679, thus allowing Minoret to succeed him.
Orléans Cathedral was still undergoing major rebuilding work in the 17th century, after its near-total destruction on 24 March 1568 the French Wars of Religion
. It was possible to bring the apse and choir, which had survived in large part, back into use quite quickly. The slow rebuilding began under Henry IV of France
on 18 April 1601. In 1679, thanks to the generosity of Louis XIV of France
, the transepts were inaugurated - on their exterior the royal effigy features. The musical officers were probably celebrated on this occasion.
On 5 September, after leaving Orléans, Minoret was employed at the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois in Paris. In April 1683 he took part in a competition organised by Louis XIV with the aim of recruiting four "sous-maîtres" for the chapelle royale
at the Palace of Versailles
(the post of "maître" was held by an ecclesiastic without any musical function). With Michel Le Tellier
's support, Minoret one of the four taken on (the other three were Michel-Richard Delalande, Pascal Colasse and Nicolas Goupillet
). Minoret entered the role on the following 1 July. Because he was a priest, he and Nicolas Goupillet were put in charge of the education of the pages of the chapel (i.e. the young boys who sang in the choir, which was otherwise made up of professional adult men). He began by reorganising this musical chapel in summer 1683 and held the role until 1714, leaving it shortly before the king's death on 1 September 1715.
All these works are preserved in manuscript. Three of them (le Ps. 94, the Currite populi and the Prope es tu) have so far been published by the Japanese musicologist Yuriko Baba, in the collection : Edition critique - Anthologies, du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles
(CMBV).
For the musicologist Jean Duron, these motets give "a good idea of this composer's style, using an elegant style and a fine yet always simple theme". In his 18th century Parnasse français, Evrard Titon du Tillet
they "proves very praiseful on Minoret and notably on his manner of writing for instruments supporting the voices" (cf. Bibliographie : Jean Duron).
He was of the generation of Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier, , was a French composer of the Baroque era.Exceptionally prolific and versatile, he produced compositions of the highest quality in several genres...
, but unlike him only a small part of his œuvre survives. Minoret famously won one of the four rotating annual positions for sous-maîtres at the Chapelle royale
Chapelle royale
The chapelle royale was the musical establishment attached to the royal chapel of the French kings. The term may also be applied to the chapel buildings, the Chapelle royale de Versailles....
in 1683, organised by Louis XIV following the retirement of Henry Du Mont and Pierre Robert
Pierre Robert (composer)
Pierre Robert was French composer and early master of the French grand motet.Pierre Robert was educated at the boys choir, or maîtrise, of Notre-Dame de Paris under the direction of Henry Frémart, Jean Francois, and Cosset Veillot before being appointed master of music at the Cathedral of Senlis...
. Unfortunately compared to both de Lalande, who won the most prestiguous Christmas turn of the four positions, and Pascal Collasse
Pascal Collasse
Pascal Collasse was a French composer of the Baroque era. Born in Rheims, Collasse became a disciple of Jean-Baptiste Lully during the latter's domination of the French operatic stage...
who in most opinions came second, Minoret and his colleague Nicolas Coupillet have been consigned by music historians to the roles of musical mediocrities. Prior to the competition he had been maître de chapelle at Orléans Cathedral since 1679.
Life
He was possibly trained by the school of Notre-Dame de Paris, under the composer Pierre RobertPierre Robert (composer)
Pierre Robert was French composer and early master of the French grand motet.Pierre Robert was educated at the boys choir, or maîtrise, of Notre-Dame de Paris under the direction of Henry Frémart, Jean Francois, and Cosset Veillot before being appointed master of music at the Cathedral of Senlis...
. Around twenty years old, he then became master of music (maître de chapelle) at the cathédrale de Rodez, then at Saint-Sernin de Toulouse, succeeding the composer Étienne Moulinié
Étienne Moulinié
Étienne Moulinié was a French Baroque composer. He was born in Languedoc, and when he was a child he sang at the Narbonne Cathedral. Through the influence of his brother Antoine , Moulinié gained an appointment at court, as the director of music for Gaston d'Orléans, the younger brother of the king...
. On 26 April 1679 he was made master of the music at the cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans
Cathédrale Sainte-Croix d'Orléans
Orléans Cathedral is a Gothic catholic cathedral in the city of Orléans, France. It is the seat of the Bishop of Orléans and it was built from 1278 to 1329 and 1601-1829 ....
, but did not stay there long and left around the start of September - his successor Pierre Tabart
Pierre Tabart
Pierre Tabart was a French composer and maître de chapelle....
was installed on 9 November the same year. This provincial cathedral's music was of high quality - ten years earlier, on 14 September 1669, for the anniversary of the church's dedication, Claude Perrault
Claude Perrault
Claude Perrault is best known as the architect of the eastern range of the Louvre Palace in Paris , but he also achieved success as a physician and anatomist, and as an author, who wrote treatises on physics and natural history.Perrault was born and died in Paris...
(brother of the conteur), noted in his Relation du Voyage de Paris à Bordeaux "At Holy Cross [...] we heard music that was very good and which, today, is second only to that at Notre-Dame de Paris". The master was then Philippe Martinot, who was retired as too old on 14 January 1679, thus allowing Minoret to succeed him.
Orléans Cathedral was still undergoing major rebuilding work in the 17th century, after its near-total destruction on 24 March 1568 the French Wars of Religion
French Wars of Religion
The French Wars of Religion is the name given to a period of civil infighting and military operations, primarily fought between French Catholics and Protestants . The conflict involved the factional disputes between the aristocratic houses of France, such as the House of Bourbon and House of Guise...
. It was possible to bring the apse and choir, which had survived in large part, back into use quite quickly. The slow rebuilding began under Henry IV of France
Henry IV of France
Henry IV , Henri-Quatre, was King of France from 1589 to 1610 and King of Navarre from 1572 to 1610. He was the first monarch of the Bourbon branch of the Capetian dynasty in France....
on 18 April 1601. In 1679, thanks to the generosity of Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV of France
Louis XIV , known as Louis the Great or the Sun King , was a Bourbon monarch who ruled as King of France and Navarre. His reign, from 1643 to his death in 1715, began at the age of four and lasted seventy-two years, three months, and eighteen days...
, the transepts were inaugurated - on their exterior the royal effigy features. The musical officers were probably celebrated on this occasion.
On 5 September, after leaving Orléans, Minoret was employed at the church of Saint-Germain-l'Auxerrois in Paris. In April 1683 he took part in a competition organised by Louis XIV with the aim of recruiting four "sous-maîtres" for the chapelle royale
Chapelle royale
The chapelle royale was the musical establishment attached to the royal chapel of the French kings. The term may also be applied to the chapel buildings, the Chapelle royale de Versailles....
at the Palace of Versailles
Palace of Versailles
The Palace of Versailles , or simply Versailles, is a royal château in Versailles in the Île-de-France region of France. In French it is the Château de Versailles....
(the post of "maître" was held by an ecclesiastic without any musical function). With Michel Le Tellier
Michel Le Tellier
Michel Le Tellier, marquis de Barbezieux, seigneur de Chaville et de Viroflay was a French statesman.-Biography:...
's support, Minoret one of the four taken on (the other three were Michel-Richard Delalande, Pascal Colasse and Nicolas Goupillet
Nicolas Goupillet
Nicolas Goupillet also Coupillet or Goupillier was a French Baroque composer - albeit a composer who may not have himself composed all of his works....
). Minoret entered the role on the following 1 July. Because he was a priest, he and Nicolas Goupillet were put in charge of the education of the pages of the chapel (i.e. the young boys who sang in the choir, which was otherwise made up of professional adult men). He began by reorganising this musical chapel in summer 1683 and held the role until 1714, leaving it shortly before the king's death on 1 September 1715.
Works, editions and recordings
- Six grands motets for double choir of which three are of Psalms 12 (Usquequo Domine), 27 (Ad te Domine levavi), 94 (Venite exultemus), while the three others take the texts Currite populi, Deus docuisti me, and the Prope es of Ps. 118 (Paris, BnFBNFBNF may stand for:In science:*Biological nitrogen fixation, a process that converts nitrogen in the atmosphere to ammonia*British National Formulary, the standard drug reference manual**British National Formulary for Children...
. Copied by André Danican PhilidorPhilidorPhilidor or Danican Philidor was a family of musicians that served as court musicians to the French kings. The original name of the family was Danican and was of Scottish origin...
, king's librarian, dated 1697) ; - Two petits motets : Sancti Spiritus and Misericordia Domine for two voices and basso continuo (LyonLyonLyon , is a city in east-central France in the Rhône-Alpes region, situated between Paris and Marseille. Lyon is located at from Paris, from Marseille, from Geneva, from Turin, and from Barcelona. The residents of the city are called Lyonnais....
, Bibliothèque municipale) ; - A mass for Christmastime (Missa pro tempore Nativitatis), for double choir, on Christmas themes, to which Sébastien de BrossardSébastien de BrossardSébastien de Brossard was a French music theorist.Brossard was born in Dompierre, Orne. After studying philosophy and theology at Caen, he studied music and established himself in Paris in 1678 and remained there until 1687. He briefly was the private tutor of the young son of Nicolas-Joseph...
added two voices, in 1694 (Paris. BnF. Coll. S. de Brossard) ; - A Domine salvum fac regem (God save the King), to double choir, which ended this mass
All these works are preserved in manuscript. Three of them (le Ps. 94, the Currite populi and the Prope es tu) have so far been published by the Japanese musicologist Yuriko Baba, in the collection : Edition critique - Anthologies, du Centre de musique baroque de Versailles
Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles
The Centre de Musique Baroque de Versailles is a centre for the study and performance of French Baroque music, based at the Palace of Versailles. It was founded by Philippe Beaussant and Vincent Berthier de Lioncourt, who were entrusted with the task of founding a musical establishment at...
(CMBV).
For the musicologist Jean Duron, these motets give "a good idea of this composer's style, using an elegant style and a fine yet always simple theme". In his 18th century Parnasse français, Evrard Titon du Tillet
Évrard Titon du Tillet
Évrard Titon du Tillet is best known for his important biographical chronicle, Le Parnasse françois, composed of brief anecdotal vite of famous French poets and musicians of his time, under the reign of Louis XIV and the Régence.- Biography :Of Scottish origin, Évrard Titon du Tillet was the son...
they "proves very praiseful on Minoret and notably on his manner of writing for instruments supporting the voices" (cf. Bibliographie : Jean Duron).