Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers
Encyclopedia
Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers (ca 1632 – 13 November 1714) was a French organist
, composer
and theorist
. His first livre d'orgue is the earliest surviving collection with traditional French organ school forms. Nivers's other music is less known; however, his treatises on Gregorian chant
and basso continuo are still considered important sources on 17th century liturgical music and performance practice.
Nivers was born into a prosperous family: his father was farmer to the bishop. Nothing is known of his early years or his musical training except that he may have received a degree from the University of Paris
. In the early 1650s Nivers became organist of Saint-Sulpice, a post he would retain until 1702. In 1668 the composer married; he had one son.
Nivers's subsequent career was quite illustrious. On 19 June 1678 he was chosen as one of the four organists of Chapelle Royale
—an ensemble of musicians who performed sacred music for the king. The other three organists were Nicolas Lebègue
, Jacques Thomelin and Jean Buterne. Nivers only resigned late in life, in 1708, and was succeeded by Louis Marchand
. This prestigious post was followed by another in 1681, when the composer succeeded Henri Du Mont as master of music to the queen. Finally, in 1686 Nivers became in charge of the music at Maison Royale de Saint-Louis in Saint-Cyr-l'École
—a convent school for young ladies who were poor but of noble birth. Nivers apparently had difficulties with the founder of the school, Madame de Maintenon
, but retained the post until his death. His colleagues at St Cyr were Jean-Baptiste Moreau
, who worked there since the school's inception, and possibly Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
, who may have helped Nivers from c. 1710 until the latter's death in 1714. Clérambault succeeded Nivers both at St Sulpice and St Cyr.
During his lifetime, Nivers was highly regarded not only as organist and composer but also as a music theorist. His treatise on composition (Traité de la composition de musique, 1667) was well-known outside France and endured into the 18th century. His work in the field of Gregorian chant resulted in influential editions of liturgical music (including an edition of Missa cunctipotens genitor Deus, which most French organ composers used as a model for their mass settings) and helped the Catholic counter-reform.
and the short-lived Nicolas de Grigny
. Several theoretical treatises by Nivers are preserved. They remain useful sources for knowledge of both musical theory and practice of his time.
Organist
An organist is a musician who plays any type of organ. An organist may play solo organ works, play with an ensemble or orchestra, or accompany one or more singers or instrumental soloists...
, composer
Composer
A composer is a person who creates music, either by musical notation or oral tradition, for interpretation and performance, or through direct manipulation of sonic material through electronic media...
and theorist
Music theory
Music theory is the study of how music works. It examines the language and notation of music. It seeks to identify patterns and structures in composers' techniques across or within genres, styles, or historical periods...
. His first livre d'orgue is the earliest surviving collection with traditional French organ school forms. Nivers's other music is less known; however, his treatises on Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant
Gregorian chant is the central tradition of Western plainchant, a form of monophonic liturgical music within Western Christianity that accompanied the celebration of Mass and other ritual services...
and basso continuo are still considered important sources on 17th century liturgical music and performance practice.
Life
University of Paris
The University of Paris was a university located in Paris, France and one of the earliest to be established in Europe. It was founded in the mid 12th century, and officially recognized as a university probably between 1160 and 1250...
. In the early 1650s Nivers became organist of Saint-Sulpice, a post he would retain until 1702. In 1668 the composer married; he had one son.
Nivers's subsequent career was quite illustrious. On 19 June 1678 he was chosen as one of the four organists of Chapelle Royale
Chapelle royale
The chapelle royale was the musical establishment attached to the royal chapel of the French kings. The term may also be applied to the chapel buildings, the Chapelle royale de Versailles....
—an ensemble of musicians who performed sacred music for the king. The other three organists were Nicolas Lebègue
Nicolas Lebègue
Nicolas Lebègue was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was born in Laon and in 1650s settled in Paris, quickly establishing himself as one of the best organists of the country. He lived and worked in Paris until his death, but frequently made trips to other cities to...
, Jacques Thomelin and Jean Buterne. Nivers only resigned late in life, in 1708, and was succeeded by Louis Marchand
Louis Marchand
Louis Marchand was a French Baroque organist, harpsichordist, and composer. Born into an organist's family, Marchand was a child prodigy and quickly established himself as one of the best known French virtuosi of his time. He worked as organist of numerous churches and, for a few years, at the...
. This prestigious post was followed by another in 1681, when the composer succeeded Henri Du Mont as master of music to the queen. Finally, in 1686 Nivers became in charge of the music at Maison Royale de Saint-Louis in Saint-Cyr-l'École
Saint-Cyr-l'École
Saint-Cyr-l'École is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located from the center of Paris.It used to host the training school for officers of the French army, the École Spéciale Militaire de Saint-Cyr , which was relocated to Coëtquidan in 1945.The old buildings of the ESM are...
—a convent school for young ladies who were poor but of noble birth. Nivers apparently had difficulties with the founder of the school, Madame de Maintenon
Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon
Françoise d'Aubigné, Marquise de Maintenon was the second wife of King Louis XIV of France. She was known during her first marriage as Madame Scarron, and subsequently as Madame de Maintenon...
, but retained the post until his death. His colleagues at St Cyr were Jean-Baptiste Moreau
Jean-Baptiste Moreau
Jean-Baptiste Moreau was a French composer of the baroque period. He served as the master of music at the court of Louis XIV. His compositional output includes several motets and music for the theatre.-Life and career:...
, who worked there since the school's inception, and possibly Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault
Louis-Nicolas Clérambault was a French musician, best known as an organist and composer. He was born and died in Paris.-Biography:...
, who may have helped Nivers from c. 1710 until the latter's death in 1714. Clérambault succeeded Nivers both at St Sulpice and St Cyr.
During his lifetime, Nivers was highly regarded not only as organist and composer but also as a music theorist. His treatise on composition (Traité de la composition de musique, 1667) was well-known outside France and endured into the 18th century. His work in the field of Gregorian chant resulted in influential editions of liturgical music (including an edition of Missa cunctipotens genitor Deus, which most French organ composers used as a model for their mass settings) and helped the Catholic counter-reform.
Work
Nivers composed several religious vocal works, and published three organ books (1665, 1667, 1675) containing more than 200 pieces. They include suites in all ancient (ecclesiastical) modes, a mass, hymns, and settings of the Deo Gratias and Te Deum. These books are the first collections of organ music to have been printed in France since Titelouze's. With his colleague and friend Lebègue, Nivers embodies the solo organ style which was subsequently represented - and adorned - by François CouperinFrançois Couperin
François Couperin was a French Baroque composer, organist and harpsichordist. He was known as Couperin le Grand to distinguish him from other members of the musically talented Couperin family.-Life:Couperin was born in Paris...
and the short-lived Nicolas de Grigny
Nicolas de Grigny
Nicolas de Grigny was a French organist and composer. He died young and left behind a single collection of organ music, which together with the work of François Couperin, represents the pinnacle of French Baroque organ tradition.-Life:Nicolas de Grigny was born in 1672 in Reims in the parish of...
. Several theoretical treatises by Nivers are preserved. They remain useful sources for knowledge of both musical theory and practice of his time.
List of works
This is a complete list of surviving works by Nivers. All of the published works were published in Paris; many were reprinted several times during the 17th and the 18th centuries, however, here only dates of first editions are given.Instrumental
- Livre d'orgue contenant cent pièces de tous les tons de l'église (1665)
- 2e livre d'orgue contenant la messe et les hymnes de l'église (1667)
- 3e livre d'orgue des huit tons de l'église (1675)
- 3 dances for lute (spurious)
Vocal
- Motets а voix seule [...] et quelques autres motets а deux voix propres pour les religieuses (1689)
- Miscellaneous works for the convent school at St Cyr:
- Cantique sur la conformité а la volonté de Dieu
- Chants de Jephté
- Le Temple de la paix
- Opéra de la vertu
- Opéra de sceaux
Liturgical editions
- Graduale romano-monasticum [...] in usum et gratiam monialium sub regula S.P.N. Benedicti, Augustini, Francisci militantium (1658)
- Chants des offices propres du séminaire de St-Sulpice (1668)
- Antiphonarium romanum [...] in usum et gratiam monialium sub regula S.P.N. Benedicti militantium (1671)
- Graduale romanum [...] in usum et gratiam monialium sub regula S.P.N. Augustini militantium (1687)
- Graduale monasticum [...] in usum et gratiam monialium sub regula S.P.N. Benedicti militantium (1687)
- Antiphonarium Praemonstratense (1680)
- Graduale Praemonstratense (1680)
- Passiones Domini N.J.C. cum lamentationibus Jeremiae prophetae, et formulis cantus ordinarii officii divini (1683)
- Offices divins а l'usage des dames et demoiselles établies par sa majesté à Saint-Cyr (1686)
- Antiphonarium monasticum ad usum sacri ordinis Cluniacensis (1693)
- Graduale romanum juxta missale sacro-sancti Concilii Tridentini (1697)
- Antiphonarium romanum juxta breviarium sacro-sancti Concilii Tridentini (1701)
- Les lamentations du prophète Jérémie (1704)
- Le processionel avec les saluts suivant l'antiphonaire des religieuses (1706)
- Chants d'église à l'usage de la paroisse de St-Sulpice (1707)
- Processionale romanum juxta breviarium sacro-sancti Concilii Tridentini (1723)
- Chants et motets à l'usage de l'église et communauté des Dames de la royale maison de St-Louis à St-Cyr (1733, includes motets by Louis-Nicolas ClérambaultLouis-Nicolas ClérambaultLouis-Nicolas Clérambault was a French musician, best known as an organist and composer. He was born and died in Paris.-Biography:...
)
Writings
- Observations sur le toucher et jeu de l'orgue (1665, included in Livre d'orgue contenant cent pièces)
- Méthode facile pour apprendre à chanter la musique (1666, also attributed to Charles le Maire)
- Traité de la composition de musique (1667)
- Dissertation sur le chant grégorien (1683)
- L'art d'accompagner sur la basse continue (1689, included in Motets а voix seule)
- Méthode certaine pour apprendre le plain-chant de l'Église (1698)
Free Scores
- e-Partitions Lots of newly edited and typeset organ scores.
- Suite No. 2 from 3e Livre d'orgue: sheet music
- Petits motets from the Royal Convent School at St.-Cyr at A-R Editions, includes a sample of Nivers' vocal work