Charpentier: Leçons de ténèbres

Just before it gets light, darkness is at its strongest. This is the symbolism behind the Christian rituals for the Tenebrae. In these prayer services in the last three days before Easter, people would sing lamentations (songs of sorrow) while gradually extinguishing the candles. In 17th-century France, leçons de ténèbres could be heard everywhere, from rich basilicas to modest village churches. This diversity is echoed in the oeuvre of Marc-Antoine Charpentier.

The singers and instrumentalists of Ensemble Correspondances specialise in the music of the Grand Siècle, the 17th century. Since its foundation by organist and harpsichordist Sebastien Daucé, the group has focused mainly on French religious music, particularly on the repertoire of Marc-Antoine Charpentier.