Nicolas Métru
Encyclopedia
Nicolas Métru was a French organist, viol player, and composer of pieces for viol and airs. From 1642 he was organist at St. Nicolas-des-Champs, then some time later master of music for the Jesuits. He taught Couperin
and Lully
and was an outstanding viol player.
His first publication - which survives - was a collection of laudatory airs to verse by Guillaume de Baïf, a minor poet but son of Jean-Antoine de Baïf
, for the victorious return of Louis XIII to Paris in 1628 after the end of the 14 month siege of Protestant La Rochelle
. His third collection of airs also contains laudatory texts, for the marriage of Louis XIV.
His duets for two viols (Paris in 1642) are the first printed example, and therefore probably antedate the duets of Sainte-Colombe
. His fantasias for viols, as those of Henry and Moulinié, derive from the air de cour and the dance rather than older styles. His 1642 publication reflects the change in development of the viol
in the 1630-50s with the upper parts being written with the new smaller viols in mind.
Editions
The CMBV have prepared editions of his duets.
Recordings
Couperin
The Couperin family were a musical dynasty of professional composers and performers. They were the most prolific family in French musical history, active during the Baroque era...
and Lully
Lully
-Places:*Switzerland**Lully, Fribourg, a municipality**Lully, Vaud, a municipality**Lully, Geneva, a village in the municipality of Bernex*France**Lully, Haute-Savoie-People:*Jean-Baptiste Lully , an Italian-born Baroque composer of French opera...
and was an outstanding viol player.
His first publication - which survives - was a collection of laudatory airs to verse by Guillaume de Baïf, a minor poet but son of Jean-Antoine de Baïf
Jean-Antoine de Baïf
Jean Antoine de Baïf was a French poet and member of the Pléiade.-Life:He was born in Venice, the natural son of the scholar Lazare de Baïf, who was at that time French ambassador at Venice...
, for the victorious return of Louis XIII to Paris in 1628 after the end of the 14 month siege of Protestant La Rochelle
La Rochelle
La Rochelle is a city in western France and a seaport on the Bay of Biscay, a part of the Atlantic Ocean. It is the capital of the Charente-Maritime department.The city is connected to the Île de Ré by a bridge completed on 19 May 1988...
. His third collection of airs also contains laudatory texts, for the marriage of Louis XIV.
His duets for two viols (Paris in 1642) are the first printed example, and therefore probably antedate the duets of Sainte-Colombe
Sainte-Colombe
Sainte-Colombe may refer to the following places in France:*Sainte-Colombe, Hautes-Alpes, in the Hautes-Alpes département*Sainte-Colombe, Charente, in the Charente département...
. His fantasias for viols, as those of Henry and Moulinié, derive from the air de cour and the dance rather than older styles. His 1642 publication reflects the change in development of the viol
Viol
The viol is any one of a family of bowed, fretted and stringed musical instruments developed in the mid-late 15th century and used primarily in the Renaissance and Baroque periods. The family is related to and descends primarily from the Renaissance vihuela, a plucked instrument that preceded the...
in the 1630-50s with the upper parts being written with the new smaller viols in mind.
Works, editions and recordings
Works- Recueil des vers du Sr. G. de Baïf, mis en musique par N. Métru, chantez en l'alégresse de l'heureux retour du roy, Paris, 1628
- Fantaisies, a 2 viole, Paris, 1642
- Premier livre d'airs Paris 1646, - lost
- Deuxième livre d’airs, Paris, 1646
- Troisième livre d'airs, Paris, 1661
- Missa ad imitationem moduli Brevis oratio, Paris, 1663
- Contrafacta, 1632
Editions
The CMBV have prepared editions of his duets.
Recordings
- Neufiesme Fantaisie on Orpheus, Ensemble L'Amoroso, Guido Balestraccio. Zig Zag, 2008