En province, à Versailles et au Concert spirituel: Réception, diffusion et exécution des motets de Lalande au XVIIIe siècle

Abstract

A comparison of sources extant in French provincial libraries and in Paris and Versailles brings much to the history of Lalande's grands motets, the most often performed sacred works of 18th-century France. These comparisons also considerably enhance the authority of the 'Cauvin' manuscripts, the only contemporary full-score copy available for most of Lalande's late grands motets. More than a decade before the Concert spirituel started its activities in Paris, Concert societies in Lyon performed Lalande's motets in earlier versions than those eventually published in Paris. The cathedral archives of Aix-en-Provence retain some works in older versions than those found in Paris and Versailles. Other manuscripts in Avignon and Apt refine our knowledge of the composer's œuvre and of the chronology of its composition and revision. The extraordinary longevity of Lalande's motets in the repertory of the Paris Concert spirituel (at least 590 performances until 1770) is also reflected in provincial centres such as Lille, where these works were still being frequently performed in the middle of the century. Both the engraved edition of 1729-1734 and manuscript sources widely circulated in the 1760s at least, and the royal chapel performed Lalande's motets until its last days in 1792. Finally, a renewed study of the Etats de la France for the period when Lalande was Sous-maitre de la Chapelle brings to light further information on musicians under his direction.