Pierre Robert (composer)
Encyclopedia
Pierre Robert was French composer and early master of the French grand motet.
Pierre Robert was educated at the boys choir, or maîtrise, of Notre-Dame de Paris under the direction of Henry Frémart, Jean Francois, and Cosset Veillot before being appointed master of music at the Cathedral of Senlis in 1643. In 1650 he went to Cathedral of Chartres
before returning to Senlis in March 1652. On April 28, 1653, he was appointed music master of Notre Dame de Paris, replacing Valentin de Bournonville where he remained ten years as head of the maîtrise.
In 1663, Louis XIV chose him with Henry Du Mont to occupy one of the four posts of Assistant Master of the Chapelle Royale. He initially filled this function in conjunction with Thomas Gobert, Gabriel Expilly and Henry Du Mont,though Gobert and Expilly resigned in 1668. Du Mont and Robert developed the grand motet, the characteristic genre of French baroque sacred music. Du Mont and Robert retired in 1682 when Louis XIV relocated the court to Versailles
, and a competition was held to find four replacements among thirty five contenders, the four chosen were Michel-Richard Delalande, Pascal Collasse
and two minor composers Nicolas Coupillet, and Guillaume Minoret
. Among those passed over were Paolo Lorenzani
, Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers
, Jean-Féry Rebel
, Henry Desmarets and Marc-Antoine Charpentier
who withdrew from the competition because of illness.
Robert died in Paris and was buried at Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs.
Pierre Robert was educated at the boys choir, or maîtrise, of Notre-Dame de Paris under the direction of Henry Frémart, Jean Francois, and Cosset Veillot before being appointed master of music at the Cathedral of Senlis in 1643. In 1650 he went to Cathedral of Chartres
Cathedral of Chartres
The French medieval Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres is a Latin Rite Catholic cathedral located in Chartres, about southwest of Paris, is considered one of the finest examples of the French High Gothic style...
before returning to Senlis in March 1652. On April 28, 1653, he was appointed music master of Notre Dame de Paris, replacing Valentin de Bournonville where he remained ten years as head of the maîtrise.
In 1663, Louis XIV chose him with Henry Du Mont to occupy one of the four posts of Assistant Master of the Chapelle Royale. He initially filled this function in conjunction with Thomas Gobert, Gabriel Expilly and Henry Du Mont,though Gobert and Expilly resigned in 1668. Du Mont and Robert developed the grand motet, the characteristic genre of French baroque sacred music. Du Mont and Robert retired in 1682 when Louis XIV relocated the court to Versailles
Versailles
Versailles , a city renowned for its château, the Palace of Versailles, was the de facto capital of the kingdom of France for over a century, from 1682 to 1789. It is now a wealthy suburb of Paris and remains an important administrative and judicial centre...
, and a competition was held to find four replacements among thirty five contenders, the four chosen were Michel-Richard Delalande, Pascal Collasse
Pascal Collasse
Pascal Collasse was a French composer of the Baroque era. Born in Rheims, Collasse became a disciple of Jean-Baptiste Lully during the latter's domination of the French operatic stage...
and two minor composers Nicolas Coupillet, and Guillaume Minoret
Guillaume Minoret
Guillaume Minoret was a French baroque composer.He was of the generation of Marc-Antoine Charpentier, but unlike him only a small part of his œuvre survives...
. Among those passed over were Paolo Lorenzani
Paolo Lorenzani
Paolo Francesco Lorenzani was an Italian composer of the Baroque Era. While living in France, he helped promote appreciation for the Italian style of music....
, Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers
Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers
Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers was a French organist, composer and theorist. His first livre d'orgue is the earliest surviving collection with traditional French organ school forms...
, Jean-Féry Rebel
Jean-Féry Rebel
Jean-Féry Rebel was an innovative French Baroque composer and violinist.-Biography:Rebel , a son of the singer Jean Rebel, a tenor in Louis XIV's private chapel, was a child violin prodigy. He became, at the age of eight, one of his father's most famous musical offspring. Later, he was a student...
, Henry Desmarets and Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier
Marc-Antoine Charpentier, , was a French composer of the Baroque era.Exceptionally prolific and versatile, he produced compositions of the highest quality in several genres...
who withdrew from the competition because of illness.
Robert died in Paris and was buried at Saint-Nicolas-des-Champs.
Works
- 2 contrapuntal motets, prior to 1663: Regina Caeli (2 versions), Tristis est anima mea
- 24 grands motetsGrands motetsThe grand motet was a genre of motet cultivated at the height of the French baroque, although the term dates from later French usage...
for the Chapelle du roi - published in Paris by Christophe Ballard in 1684 - 10 elevations (petits motets) for the Chapelle du roi
- 3 hymns plainchant on poems of Jean Santeul for the new breviary of Paris (1680)
Discography
- Pierre Robert - Grands Motets : De profundis, Quare fremuerunt, Te decet hymnus, Musica FloreaMusica FloreaMusica Florea is Czech Baroque music ensemble, founded 1992 by conductor and cellist Marek Štryncl, located in Prague.- Profile :The group of young professionals with a common interest in the study and authentic performance of Baroque music engaged primarily in performances and recordings of...
, Olivier Scneebeli 2009 K617