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Ghostwriter: The Story of Henri Desmarest

Lucie Skeaping explores the extraordinary life and music of French composer Henri Desmarest, who was ghost writer of grands motets for one of Louis XIV chapel directors.

Henry Desmarest was obviously a talented musican and composer, first boy page and then musician in Louis XIV's court, he began ghost-writing Grands Motets for one of the chapel directors Nicholas Goupillet when he was in his early twenties. After a decade, this scandal was uncovered, but it was not the last of Desmarest's woes! A few years later, he fell in love with one of his pupils, who also happened to be the daughter of a wealthy and powerful man who managed to get the composer sentenced to death, forcing Desmarest to spend the rest of his days in exile. Lucie Skeaping explores the extraordinary life and music of Henry Desmarest.

Available now

16 minutes

Last on

Sun 23 Jan 2011 00:00

Music Played

  • Henri Desmarets

    Grande Motet Lorrains – Usquequo Domine (first part)

    Performers: Les Arts Florissants/William Christie

    • ERATO.
    • 8573 802232.
  • Henri Desmarets

    Grande Motet (for Goupillet): De Profundis (psaulme 129)– De Profundis & Fiant aures

    Performers: Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet

    • GLOSSA.
    • GCD 921610.
  • Henri Desmarets

    Venus et Adonis: 1st Air from Bellone's suite; 2nd Air from Bellone's suite; Passacaille

    Performers: Les Talens Lyriques, Christophe Rousset

    • AMBROISIE.
    • AM 167.
  • Henri Desmarets

    Mass for two choirs and 2 orchestras – Agnus Dei

    Performers: Nova Stravaganza, Choir of the Versailles Centre for Baroque Music, Gilles Ragon and Kenneth Weiss (directors)

    • VIRGIN CLASSICS.
    • VC 5454162.
  • Henri Desmarets

    Lauda Jerusalem: Mittit crystallum; Emittet verbum; Qui annuntiat; Non fecit taliter

    Performers: Les Arts Florissants, William Christie

    • ERATO.
    • 8573 802232.
  • Henri Desmarets

    Te Deum de Paris – Dignare Domine; Miserere nostril; Fiat misericordia tua; In te Domine s

    Performers: Le Concert Spirituel, Hervé Niquet

    • GLOSSA.
    • GCD 921607.

Broadcasts

  • Sat 12 Jun 2010 13:00
  • Sun 23 Jan 2011 00:00

Podcast