Founded in Fontainebleau, in the presence of Louis XIV, August 25, 1708 (or 1709?), "The Stag Hunt" is entertainment "mixed several tunes to drink" for soloists, choir, hunting horns, violins and continuo , dedicated to the Dowager Princess of Conti, daughter of the king and Madame de La Valliere, excellent harpsichordist and host of a renowned musical salon. Divided into seven scenes and paintings, evoking the different episodes of hunting (including "The Order for the relays," "let the hounds," "The Initiated", "The View from the Deer", "La Chasse" "" The Halali "," The Death of the Deer "," The Quarry "), the entertainment we painted Diane who, after an abundant feast taken in the company of Bacchus, leads his dryads débucher animals.
"Although the subject is singular, I nevertheless tried to express the action to the natural" wrote the Orleans Jean-Baptiste Morin (1677-1745), future ordinary musician of the Regent, in the preface to the first edition, and the success was the appointment as the Court that at times for celebrations of St. Hubert and the Concert Spiritual, and this until 1734.
We know the passion of the kings of France for hunting (for Louis XIII fox, deer for Louis XIV and Louis XV, Louis XVI to the boar) and this curious and beautiful work is double musically and hunting , an exceptional document.
Recorded in 1964 and released in 1970 by RCA Erato (I have treasured the 33 rpm), this reissue of 2004, I discovered only today, is better come, especially since it is accompanied by the beautiful hunting Symphony Jean-Joseph Mouret (1682-1738), the hunting scene from "Hippolyte et Aricie" Rameau, and "La Choisy" Michel Corette (1709-1795), its fourteenth " comic concertos "which, built on popular themes, served as entertainment to include in the exhibition shows that this prestigious organist, musician Prince of Conde and the Duke of Angoulême, also chaired ...
CD colorful that one must once again to this great pioneer of French Baroque music that was Jean-Francois Paillard who went away on April 15, at the age of 85, for the paradise for musicians ...
Thank you, sir, for all you have done and for all that you leave us!
