Marc Antoine Charpentier

Marc Antoine Charpentier by Cessac, Catherine. hardcover edition. ISBN: 9780931340802.

Although Charpentier left little trace of his worldly existence, his music fortunately has been preserved nearly in its entirety. This book is the first comprehensive study of his approximately 550 compositions, including a number of important pieces that remain relatively unknown. A discussion of the composers theoretical writings, a complete catalog of Charpentiers works, and an extensive bibliography are all given here. While Charpentiers life and personality are still shrouded in mystery, our knowledge about him has nevertheless increased considerably over the past few years, and it will certainly continue to be enriched by new discoveries in the future. His music, for the most part still unknown both on disc and in concert, is waiting for performers to reveal all its facets, and for an ever-growing public finally to discover Charpentier as one of Frances most remarkable composers.