Canon
Where to start with Charpentier
Essential works to know this composer by — spread across their styles-
OrchestralMusique de théâtre pour 'Andromède', H.504
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VocalTe Deum, for 8 voices, chorus, and orchestra, H.146
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Chamber3 Noëls, for 2 flutes, recorders, and continuo, H.531
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StageDavid et Jonathas, tragédie en musique, H.490
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OrchestralMusique de théâtre pour 'Circé', H.496
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Vocal3 Tenebrae lessons, for 3 or 6 voices, flute, string and continuo, H.135-137
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Vocal3 Tenebrae lessons, for bass, woodwinds, strings and continuo, H.120-122
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Chamber7 Noëls sur les instruments, for 2 recorders, strings, and continuo, H.534
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VocalAh! qu'ils sont courts les beaux jours, air for soprano and continuo, H.442
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ChamberAntienne pour les violons, flûtes et hautbois, for 2 flutes, oboe, strings and continuo, H.532
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ChamberAntienne, for 2 flutes, strings and continuo, H.526
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ChamberAprès Confitebor, for 2 flutes, strings and continuo, H.516
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VocalAssumpta est Maria, mass for 6 voices, chorus, orchestra and continuo, H.11
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VocalAuprès du feu l'on fait l'amour, air for soprano and continuo, H.446
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VocalAve maris stella, hymn for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.60
Listening guide
Hand-curated paths into Charpentier's catalogueMost Popular
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Te Deum in D major H.146the opening fanfare was used as the Eurovision theme for decades
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Médée (opera)
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Leçons de Ténèbres H.96-121
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Messe de Minuit pour Noël H.9
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David et Jonathas (opera)
Most Acclaimed
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Messe de Minuit
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Médée
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Leçons de Ténèbres
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Arts Florissants H.487
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Tenebrae for Holy Week
Most Weird
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Médéeopera — the most dramatically intense French Baroque opera; Médée is genuinely terrifying
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Arts Florissantsdramatic motet — named after William Christie’s ensemble
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Pastorale sur la naissance de Notre Seigneur H.483
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Actéon H.481small chamber opera — hunter transformed into a stag by Diana
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La Descente d\’Orphée aux Enfers H.488
Similar composers
Same era, overlapping styles — by genre & period affinityWorks 154
- Orchestral
- Musique de théâtre pour 'Andromède', H.504
- Musique de théâtre pour 'Circé', H.496
- Marche de triomphe, for instruments, H. 547
- Messe pour plusieurs instruments au lieu des orgues, H.513
- Ouverture pour le sacre d'un eveque, H.536
- Sonate à huit, H.548
- Vocal
- Te Deum, for 8 voices, chorus, and orchestra, H.146
- 3 Tenebrae lessons, for 3 or 6 voices, flute, string and continuo, H.135-137
- 3 Tenebrae lessons, for bass, woodwinds, strings and continuo, H.120-122
- Ah! qu'ils sont courts les beaux jours, air for soprano and continuo, H.442
- Assumpta est Maria, mass for 6 voices, chorus, orchestra and continuo, H.11
- Auprès du feu l'on fait l'amour, air for soprano and continuo, H.446
- Ave maris stella, hymn for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.60
- Ave maris stella, motet for 2 sopranos and continuo, H. 63
- Beatus vir qui timet Dominum, for 3 voices, chorus and continuo, H.221
- Beaux petits yeux d'écarlate, air for 3 voices and continuo, H.448
- Canticum Zachariae, for 5 voices, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.345
- Canticum in nativitatem Domini, Christmas, for 2 sopranos, bass, 2 treble strings and continuo, H.393
- Canticum in nativitatem Domini, H.393
- Celle qui fait mon tout tourment, air for soprano and continuo, H.450
- Chaconne, for soprano and continuo
- Chant joyeux du temps de Pâques, for 6 voices, chorus, strings and contiunuo, H.339
- Confitebor tibi Domine, for 3 voices, chorus and continuo, H.220
- Conserva me Domine, for 4 voices, chorus, strings and continuo, H.230
- Desolatione desolata est terra, for 3 voices and continuo, H.380
- Deus judicium tuum regi da, psalm for 3 voices, instruments and continuo, H.166
- Dialogus inter angelos et pastores, histoire sacrée for 4 voices, chorus, 2 flutes, strings and continuo, H.420 — Oratorio
- Dilecte mi, for 3 voices and continuo, H.436
- Dixit Dominus, Pour le Port Royal, for 3 high sopranos and continuo, H.226
- Dixit Dominus, psalm for 4 voices, chorus and orchestra, H.204
- Domine salvum fac regem, for 5 voices, double chorus, strings and continuo, H.283
- Domine salvum, H.299
- Domine salvum, for 4 voices, H.290
- Domine salvum, for 4 voices, double chorus, strings and continuo, H.291
- Domine salvum, for chorus, strings and continuo, H.303
- Dominus illuminatio mea, for 5 voices, chorus, strings and continuo, H.229
- Elevation, 'O pretiosum', H.245
- Eram quasi agnus, cinquième répons après la deuxième leçon du second nocturne, for high soprano and continuo, H.115
- Extremum Dei judicium, histoire sacrée, for 6 voices, 2 treble instruments, 2 trumpets and continuo, H.401
- Fenchon, la gentille Fenchon, air for 2 sopranos and continuo, H 454
- Gaudete fideles, H.306
- Gratiarum actiones ex sacris codicibus excerptae pro restituta serenissimi Galliarum delphini salute, motet, H.326
- Gratiarum actiones pro restituta regis christianissimi sanitate anno 1686, 'Circumdederunt me dolores', H.341
- In circumcisione Domini, for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.316
- In festo purificationis, 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.318
- In honorem S. Ludovici, motet for 6 voices, chorus, orchestra and continuo, H.365
- In honorem Sancti Ludovici Regis Galliæ, histoire sacrée for 3 voices, orchestra and continuo, H.418
- In nativitate Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Canticum, histoire sacrée for 3 voices and continuo, H. 421
- In nativitatem Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Canticum, histoire sacrée for 3 voices, chorus, orchestra, and continuo, H. 416 — Oratorio
- In nativitatem Domini Nostri Jesu Christi Canticum, histoire sacrée for 4 voices, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.414 — Oratorio
- In nativitatem Domini canticum, Christmas for soprano, countertenor, tenor, bass, 2 flutes, 2 violins and continuo, H.314
- In te Domine speravi, for 5 voices, chorus, strings and continuo, H.228
- La Couronne de fleurs, pastorale for 8 voices, chorus, 2 treble viols and continuo, H.486
- La prière à la Vierge du Père Bernard, for 3 voices, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.367
- Laetatus sum, psalm for 3 voices, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.216
- Lauda Jerusalem, for 4 voices, choruses, strings and continuo, H.210
- Laudate Dominum omnes gentes, psalm for 4 voices, H.182
- Laudate pueri Dominum, for 5 voices, chorus and continuo, H.203
- Laudate pueri Dominum, for 5 voices, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.149
- Le Malade imaginaire, incidental music for soloists, chorus, instruments and continuo, H.495
- Le reniement de St. Pierre, occasional motet for 5 voices, chorus, and continuo, H.424 — Oratorio
- Litanies de la Vierge à 2 dessus et une basse chantant, for 3 voices and continuo, H.86
- Litanies de la Vierge, for 4 voices, chorus and continuo, H.89
- Litanies de la Vierge, for 6 voices, chorus, 2 dessus de violes, and continuo, H.83
- Magdalena lugens voce sola cum symphonia, 'Sola vivebat in antris', motet for voice and chamber ensemble, H.343
- Magnificat à 3 dessus, for 2 sopranos, mezzo-soprano, and continuo, H.75
- Magnificat, H.73
- Magnificat, Pour le Port-Royal, motet for 3 high sopranos, chorus and continuo, H.81
- Magnificat, for 3 voices, chorus and continuo, H.76
- Magnificat, for 4 voices, chorus and continuo, H.80
- Magnificat, for 4 voices, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.72
- Marian antiphon cycle for the church year, for 3 or 4 voices, 2 violins and continuo, H.44-47
- Messe 'Kyrie eleison,' for voices, instruments and continuo, H.1
- Messe Pour le Port Royal, for 3 sopranos, chorus and continuo, H.5
- Messe de minuit pour Noël, for soloists, chorus, and orchestra, H.9
- Messe des morts, for 5 voices, chorus, instruments and continuo, H.10
- Messe des morts, for 6 voices, chorus and continuo, H.7
- Messe à 8 voix et 8 violons et flûtes, for 8 voices, chorus, 2 flutes, strings and continuo, H.3
- Messe à quatre choeurs, for 12 voices, quadruple chorus, strings and continuo, H.4
- Miserere des Jésuites, psalm for 5 voices, chorus, strings, and continuo, H.193
- Miserere mei Deus, motet for 5 voices, chorus, 2 flutes, strings and continuo, H.219
- Mors Saülis et Jonathae, histoire sacrée, for 8 voices, chorus, 2 violins and continuo, H.403
- Motet pour les trépassés, for 5 voices, chorus, strings, and continuo, H.311
- Motet pour une longue offrande, for 5 voices, chorus, instruments and contiuo, H.434
- Méditations pour le carême, 10 motets for 3 voices and continuo, H.380-89
- Nisi Dominus, for 4 voices, chorus and continuo, H.160
- Nisi Dominus, for 4 voices, chorus, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.150
- Nisi Dominus, psalm for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.231
- Notus in Judea Deus, psalm for 3 voices, chorus, instruments and continuo, H.206
- O Deus, o salvator noster, motet for 3 voices, chorus, strings and continuo, H.372
- O Juda, o Juda, neuvième répons après la troisième leçon du troisième nocturne, for 2 voices and continuo, H.119
- O amor, motet for 6 voices and continuo, H.253
- O clavis David, motet for 3 voices, chorus, strings and continuo, H.40
- O dulce, o ineffabile convivium, motet for 3 voices and continuo, H.270
- O salutaris hostia, motet for bass, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.248
- O salutaris à 3 dessus, motet for 3 voices and continuo, H.261
- Oiseau de ces bocage, air for soprano and continuo, H.456
- Panis quem ego dabo, for 5 voices, 2 flutes and continuo, H. 275
- Pour Sainte Thérèse, motet for 3 voices and continuo, H.342
- Pour la fête de L'Épiphanie, histoire sacrée for 3 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.395
- Pour le Saint Sacrement au reposoir, motet for voices, chorus, 2 flutes and continuo, H.346
- Pour plusieurs martyrs, for bass, H.361
- Pro omnibus festis B.V.M., for 6 voices, chorus, instruments and continuo, H.333
- Psalm 87, H.207, Domine Deus salutis meae
- Pulchra est et decora, for 3 voices and continuo, H.52
- Quatuor anni tempestates, 4 motets for 2 voices and continuo, H.335-338
- Quemadmodum desiderat cervus, psalm for 5 voices, 2 treble instruments and continuo, H.174
- Regina coeli, for 3 voices and continuo, H.30
- Salve Regina à 3 choeurs, for for 3 choruses and continuo, H.24
- Salve Regina à trois voix pareilles, for 3 voices and continuo, H.23
- Sans frayeur dans ce bois, chaconne for soprano and continuo, H.467
- Sept Répons des Ténèbres: Una hora
- Sicut pullus hirundinis, for 3 voices and continuo, H.381
- Sola vivebat in antris, for 3 voices and continuo, H.388
- Sola vivebat in antris, motet for 2 voices, 2 flutes and continuo, H.373
- Stabat mater pour des réligieuses, motet for soprano, chorus and continuo, H.15
- Stabat mater, for 3 voices and continuo, H.387
- Supplication pro defunctis ad beatam Virginem, motet for 3 voices, 3 flutes and continuo, H.328
- Te Deum à 4, for 5 voices, chorus, strings and continuo, H.147
- Te Deum, for 8 voices, chorus, and orchestra, H.145
- Tenebrae factae sunt, for 3 voices and continuo, H.386
- Tout renaît, tout fleurit, air for 2 voices and continuo, H.468
- Transfige dulcissime Jesu, for 5 voices and continuo, H.251
- Tristes déserts, sombre retraite, air for soprano and continuo, H.469
- Troisième leçon de ténèbres du mercredi saint, motet for 2 voices and continuo, H.98
- Un flambeau, Jeannette, Isabelle, air for soprano, H.460c
- Velum templi, H.128
- Veni creator Spiritus, motet for high soprano and continuo, H.69
- Verbum caro panem verum, motet for 3 voices and continuo, H.267
- Veux-tu, compère Grégoire, air for 3 voices, H.470
- Victimae paschali laudes, motet for 3 voices and continuo, H.13
- Chamber
- 3 Noëls, for 2 flutes, recorders, and continuo, H.531
- 7 Noëls sur les instruments, for 2 recorders, strings, and continuo, H.534
- Antienne pour les violons, flûtes et hautbois, for 2 flutes, oboe, strings and continuo, H.532
- Antienne, for 2 flutes, strings and continuo, H.526
- Après Confitebor, for 2 flutes, strings and continuo, H.516
- Bruit de trompettes
- Caprice por trois violons, for 2 violins and bass viol, H.542
- Concert pour quatre parties des violes, for strings, H.545
- Fanfare à deux trompettes
- Menuet et Autre menuet, for 2 flutes and bass viol, H.541
- Offerte non encore exécutée, for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings and bassoon, H.522
- Offerte pour l'orgue, for 2 flutes, 2 oboes, strings and continuo, H.514
- Ouverture poue l'église, for strings and continuo, H.524
- Ouverture pour le sacre d'un évêque, for 2 flutes, oboe, strings and continuo, H.537
- Pour un reposoir, for 3 flutes, strings and continuo, H.523
- Pour un reposoir, for strings, H.508
- Prélude pour le Te Deum à 8, for strings, H.145a
- Suite en ré mineur, for chamber ensemble
- Symphonie en g ré sol bmol, for 2 flutes and continuo, H.529
- Symphonies pour un reposoir, for strings and continuo, H.515
- Stage
- David et Jonathas, tragédie en musique, H.490
- La descente d'Orphée aux Enfers, opera, H.488
- Médée, opera, H.491