Les Funérailles Royales de Louis XIV

Céline Scheen Soprano

Lucile Richardot Mezzo-soprano

Samuel Boden Tenor

Marc Mauillon Baritone

Christian Immler Baritone

Ensemble Pygmalion Choir and Orchestra

Raphaël Pichon Director

At the chapelle ardente

Jean Colin – Miserere, faux-bourdon à 6 voix

Tambour & Marche funèbre pour le Convoi du Roy

Office des morts

Michel-Richard de Lalande – De Profundis, Grand Motet

Absoute & Mise au caveau Plain Chant et Faux Bourdon

Jean Colin – Pie Jesu, faux-bourdon à 6 voix

Fanfare “Le Roy est mort ! Vive le Roy!”

Service funèbre & Bout de l'an

Michel-Richard de Lalande – Dies Irae, Grand Motet

The death of Louis XIV on 1 September 1715 left the Kingdom a widower after a reign of 72 years, which had completely reshaped the state, monarchical power, sciences, arts and borders of France. The event, so long awaited that it was hardly surprising, gave rise to funeral ceremonies throughout the Kingdom, but it was three of them in particular that were what has since been called the Royal Funeral of Louis XIV.

The funeral depository lasted for 40 days, during which a perpetual service was held, punctuated three times a day by the death knell of the King.

On 23 October, the funeral ceremony took place. The King's body was placed in a huge catafalque decorated with burning candles, with allegorical figures at the corners and colossal statues at the base symbolising the virtues of the deceased Prince. The Music of the Chapelle Royale and that of the King's Chamber were present in their entirety, under the direction of their Master Michel-Richard de Lalande, who had served Louis XIV for 32 years.

Raphaël Pichon mobilised a considerable number of musicians to perform this forgotten music, taking his Ensemble Pygmalion to one of the summits of the sacred repertoire, by creating spatial effects in the Royal Chapel of Versailles, a place of more than ever symbolic power.