Michel Richard Delalande (1657-1726) - Caprice des Simphonies pour le Souper du Roy (1703)

Joyeux anniversaire Michel Richard Delalande! 🎺👑 Composer: Michel Richard Delalande (1657-1726) Work: Caprice des Simphonies pour le Souper du Roy (1703) Performers: Orchestre de chambre Paul Kuеntz; Paul Kuеntz (conductor) Painting: Jean-Antoine Watteau (1684-1721) - Louis XIV awards the Cordon Bleu Order to the Duke of Burgundy, father of Louis HD image: Further info: Listen free: No available --- Michel-Richard Delalande [La Lande, De Lalande] (Paris, 15 December 1657 - Versailles, 18 June 1726) French composer, harpsichordist and organist. He was the leading composer of the high Baroque grand motet at the French court. He was the 15th child of Michel Lalande, a Parisian master tailor, and Claude Dumoutiers. He joined the choir of the royal church of ’Auxerrois about 1666 and sang there until his voice broke at age 15. He became a distinguished organist and harpsichordist, giving instruction on the latter to two of the daughters of Louis XIV by his mistress Mme. de Montespan. He was also active as a church organist in Paris. In 1683 he became one of the four sous-maitres of the Royal Chapel; he was in sole charge from 1714 until 1723, when Louis XV restored the other three positions. He then was joined by Campra, Bernier and Gervais. In 1685 he was named ’compositeur de la musique de la chambre’, a title he solely held from 1709 to 1718. He also was ’surintendant de la musique de la chambre’ from 1689 to 1719. He was made a Chevalier of the Order of St. Michel by Louis XV in 1722. Delalande’s grand motets are outstanding, being notable for their mastery of the Versailles style. He is also distinguished by his music for the stage. He deftly used music from his ballets and divertissements in his ’Simphonies pour les soupers du Roi’, which were played at the dinners of Louis XIV and Louis XV. According to the ‘Discours’, he died of pneumonia. He was buried in the church of Notre Dame de Versailles, not far from the château where he had served for 43 years.