French Psalms of Catholic & Huguenotes

Ensemble Sagittarius, Michel Laplénie

Lejeune, Goudimel, Mareschal, Mauduit, L'Estocart, Caignet, Janson, Caurroy, De La Tour, Courbes

French psalms during the era of the Edict of Nantes In 1998 France commemorated the 400th year of the edict which temporarily brought to an end 30 years of troubles and civil wars and gave reformed religion the right to exist in the kingdom. A spirit of “Tolerance” was advocated which, although ambiguous, allowed enemies in religion to tolerate each other and even to collaborate. The spotlight put on the end of the XVIth century also provited an occasion to bring to the fore composers who were active at the time of this event and rescue their work from obsurity. Indeed, it is interesting to observe how the spirit of the Edict of Nantes was musically interpreted and how Huguenots and Catholics lived together and were able to have a mutual influence in the priviledged field of the French psalm, an art form common to both religions but interpreted in quite different ways. Interested in this repertoire for more than 10 years, the SAGITTARIUS ensemble presents in this recording an anthology of French psalms dating roughly from between 1560 and 1620. Their work puts French psalms of Catholic and Huguenot inspiration face to face with one another.

1. Psalm 69: Hélas Seigneur Je Te Prie
2. Psalm 51: Miséricorde Au Povre Vicieux
3. Psalm: Hélas Mon Dieu Ton Ire (Chanson Spirituelle)
4. Psalm 88: Seigneur, J'espars Jour Et Nuit
5. Psalm 6: Tourne Ailleurs Ta Rigueur
6. Psalm 54: Sus, Sus Mon Âme
7. Psalm 29: Vous Tous Princes Et Seigneurs
8. Psalm 42
9. Psalm 150: En Son Temple Sacré
10. Psalm 100: Pardon Et Justice Il Me Plait De Chanter
11. Psalm 33: Réveillez-vous Chacun Fidèle
12. Psalm 133: O Combien Est Plaisant
13. Psalm 80: O Pasteur D'Israël
14. Psalm 94: Venez Et Nous Éjouissons
15. Psalm 1: D'un Heur Vraiment Parfait
16. Psalm 47
17. Psalm 41: Le Cerf Si Fort Ne Désire
18. Psalm 126: Si Le Tout Puissant
19. Psalm 26: Juge Ma Cause
20. Psalm 136: Assis Le Long Des Eaux
21. Psalm 150: Louez Dieu Grand En Puissance