Reims welcomed this ceremony with all possible pomp: the streets were urgently renovated, accommodation was prepared for the large assembly that was about to take place, bridges were restored, and all sorts of victuals, furniture and tapestries transported… Reims was to be the centre of a kingdom that was being rebuilt around the young sixteen-year-old king for a few days.

The ceremonial was as impressive as at the theatre: the Reims cathedral was decked out with tapestries, carpets, stands and a throne on the rood screen; all the grandees of the kingdom of France, as well as the sovereigns of Europe, were present and took their places at dawn. They all had in mind the Royal Ballet of the Night, in February 1653, whose unprecedented splendour had consecrated “the greatest king in the world” in people’s minds. The symbolic and secular coronation was now followed by a real coronation before God: gold, theatre machines and costumes gave way to the staging of the throne, the magnificent crown, the ermine, the sceptre, and the hand of justice, and to the processions of the most prestigious dignitaries of the kingdom, accompanied by volleys of bells and the ringing of oboes.

Although there is no indication of the precise music played on this occasion, many indications can be traced through a thorough investigation: the course of the ceremony, the texts sung, the different musical groups present, the instruments used, the number of performers, their location in the cathedral and the types of music.

By comparing all this information, mainly from all the reports made by contemporaries, official or not, sometimes extremely detailed, with the musical sources of that time, specifically the Deslauriers Manuscript and the Tours Manuscript, Sébastien Daucé and his ensemble Correspondances propose today, with the precious help of the musicologist Thomas Leconte, a Coronation of Louis XIV in music, opening the ears of the music lover of the 21st century to the treasures of polyphony of past times.

Produced by ensemble Correspondances with the support of the Théâtre de Caen, Fondation d’Entreprise Michelin, Spedidam, Centre de musique baroque de Versailles and the scientific assistance of Thomas Leconte, researcher at CMBV, and with the help of Patrick Demouy, Jean Duron, Fabien Guillou, Guillaume Haldenwang, Johanne Maitre, Caroline Dangin-Bardot, Alexandre Maral.

Caisse des Dépôts and Mécénat Musical Société Générale are major sponsors of the Correspondances ensemble.

Correspondances is supported by the French Ministry of Culture (DRAC Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes) for companies and ensembles of national and international scope, by the Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes Region and by the City of Lyon. Correspondances is in residence at the Théâtre de Caen. It is associated with the Opéra and the Chapelle du Château de Versailles, and with La Chapelle de la Trinité with the support of the City of Lyon.

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The king enters the cathedral!

Anonymous, Pavane pour le mariage de Monsieur de Vandome

Jean Veillot, Sacris solemniis

Plain Chant, Ecce ego mitto Angelum eum

Psaume, Domine in virtute tua

Anonymous (Tours manuscript), Jubilate Deo

Arrival of the Holy Ampoule before the king’s oath and the blessing of the sword

Anonymous (Philidor manuscript), Pavane pour le mariage de Henry le Grand

Antiphon, O pretiosum munus

Anonymous (Deslauriers manuscript), Benedicite omnia opera

Antiphon, Confortare et esto vir

Anonymous (Tours manuscript), Omnes gentes plaudite manibus

On présente au roi la couronne, le sceptre et la main de justice

Roland de Lassus, O rex vivat!

Henry Du Mont, In lectulo meo

Antiphon, Gentem francorum

Francesco Cavalli, Dixit Dominus

Dove release and Te Deum for the Coronation

Anonymous, Pavane for the coronation of Louis XIII

Antiphon, Unxerunt Salomonem Sadoch

Étienne Moulinié, Cantate Domino

Thomas Gobert (Deslauriers manuscript), Domine Salvum fac regem

Anonymous (manuscript Philidor), Pavane La petite Guerre

Anonymous (Tours manuscript), Te Deum à deux chœurs

Messe du Sacre: vivat rex!

Plain-Chant, Factus est Dominus protector

Charles d’Helfer, Kyrie (Helfer Mass)

Charles d’Helfer, Gloria (Helfer mass)

Francesco Cavalli, Offertory: Sonata for twelve

Charles d’Helfer, Sanctus (Helfer Mass)

Anonymous, Elevation: O vere digna Hostia

Anonymous (Tours manuscript), O salutaris Hostia

Étienne Moulinié, Agnus Dei

Plain-Chant, Pax Domini

Étienne Moulinié, Post communion: Flores Apparuerunt

Open the doors for Louis le XIVe, King of France and Navarre!

Plain-Chant, Ite missa est

Anonymous (Deslauriers manuscript), Gaudete et exsultate

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