Charpentier's early music jamboree

Musica Antiqua Köln celebrate 200 years of Charpentier

Composer: Charpentier
Repertoire: Musique Sacrée
Artists: Musica Antiqua Köln
Rating: 4/5
Genre: Instrumental
Label: Archiv 474 507-2

Musica Antiqua Köln announces Charpentier’s bicentenary this year with a glorious cleanly blown, audience-hushing Fanfare on two trumpets and a priestly Triumphal March on this celebratory disc of religious music. King Louis preferred his masses low and the charming Mass for Several Instruments Instead of the Organ has a dismissive simplicity about it. The Ouverture à l’eglise tends towards stuffiness, but overall the CD is a welcome opener to what should be a commemoration of Early Music.