Album

Marc-Antoine Charpentier's Catholic faith was infused with an Ignatian spirituality that inspired his conviction that liturgical music is not only an offering of worship to God, but a means of intensifying believers' religious experience, opening them to the deep significance of the texts being set. With this motivation, he employed all the resources at his disposal to draw listeners close to the experience of the biblical story being told, or to the feeling the liturgical text was intended to inspire. The result is music of intensely explicit emotional communicativeness, using extremes of expressiveness to move the listener. There is no clearer example of this than his oratorio, Le reniement de St. Pierre (The denial of St. Peter). Charpentier's music so vividly depicts the actions of the characters that a cursory knowledge of the story makes it possible to follow the unfolding events without needing to refer to the text. The concluding chorus is one of the most wrenching moments in Baroque music; even to modern sensibilities, its harmonic contortions depicting Peter's plummet into despair as he "went out and wept bitterly" remain astonishing. The other works collected here are similarly demonstrative expressions of Charpentier's skills in depicting emotional extremes. Ensemble William Byrd, conducted by Graham O'Reilly, performs with dazzling intensity. The performers clearly understand Charpentier's theological and musical intent, and while they sing and play with great tonal purity, they bring to the music an emotional rawness that's breathtaking. Pan's sound is exemplary—clean, warm, and present.

© Stephen Eddins, All Music Guide

CD 1
Marc-Antoine Charpentier Composer Transfige dulcissime Jesu, for 5 voices and continuo, H.251 Work 10:15 Graham O'Reilly Conductor, Ensemble William Byrd Ensemble
1	1a.Transfige dulcissime Jesu	4:40			$0.99
2	1b.Da ut anima mea	5:35			$0.99
Marc-Antoine Charpentier Composer Extremum Dei judicium, histoire sacrée, for 6 voices, 2 treble instruments, 2 trumpets and continuo, H.401 Work 19:47 Graham O'Reilly Conductor, Ensemble William Byrd Ensemble
3	Deus: Audite, audite cæli quæ loquor	2:36			$0.99
4	Chorus hominem: O pavor, o tremor, o portentum!	3:09			$0.99
5	Bruit de trompettes - Angeli: Adesti omnes gentes	1:45			$0.99
6	Homines: Et factus est subito sonus infinitæ multitundinis	1:14			$0.99
7	Deus: Venite benedicti, venite electi mei	3:57			$0.99
8	Chorus damnatorum: O justa punitio!	3:00			$0.99
9	Angeli: Vos autem electi, vos autem benedicti	1:12			$0.99
10	Chorus electorum: Hymnum dicamus Domine nostro	2:54			$0.99
Marc-Antoine Charpentier Composer Le reniement de St. Pierre, occasional motet (oratorio) for 5 voices, chorus, and continuo, H.424 Work 10:50 Graham O'Reilly Conductor, Ensemble William Byrd Ensemble
11	Cum cænasset Jesus	3:31			$0.99
12	Ecce Judas unus de duodecim venit	4:27			$0.99
13	Tunc respexit Jesus Petrum	2:52			$0.99
Marc-Antoine Charpentier Composer Salve Regina à 3 choeurs, for for 3 choruses and continuo, H.24 Work Graham O'Reilly Conductor, Ensemble William Byrd Ensemble
14	Salve Regina à 3 choeurs, for for 3 choruses and continuo, H.24	7:07			$1.49
Marc-Antoine Charpentier Composer Litanies de la Vierge à 2 dessus et une basse chantant, for 3 voices and continuo, H.86 Work 7:44 Graham O'Reilly Conductor, Ensemble William Byrd Ensemble
15	Kyrie eleison, Christe eleison	3:22			$0.99
16	Salus infirmorum	4:22			$0.99
Marc-Antoine Charpentier Composer Motet pour les trépassés, for 5 voices, chorus, strings, and continuo, H.311 Work 12:14 Graham O'Reilly Conductor, Ensemble William Byrd Ensemble
17	Prélude pour Miseremini et Tutti: Miseremini mei	2:53			$0.99
18	Trio: Heu, mihi Domine	4:11			$0.99
19	Ritournelle devant O pœnis crucior	5:10			$0.99