Joseph Michel

Joseph Michel ( * 1679 in Bay -sur -Aube (Haute- Marne), † 1736) was a French composer and organist.

Life

Joseph Michel came as a child in the Cathedral Choir School of the collegiate church of Saint -Étienne Dijon. There he was, among other pupils of Pierre Menault. 1709 he took over the management of the Saint- Chapelle du Roi in Dijon (1802 destroyed). His fame spread far beyond the boundaries of the city and Burgundy.

His Grand Motet Dominus regnavit came into the repertoire of " Chapelle du Roi " in Versailles and remained there until 1792. Michels Grand Motets are characteristic of second half of the reign of Louis XIV They comprise a large instrumental ensemble consisting of flute, bassoon and a 5 -part string orchestra, ( Violon, Hautes- contres, Tailles, Quintessence de violon et bass ). The double choir consisted of two upper, alto, tenor and baritone soloists and for the upper voice, alto, tenor, baritone and bass for the chorus. In his later works, one recognizes the emerging galant style from an archived in Versailles letter shows that Michel was provided as one of the Kapellmeister at the royal court, his untimely death prevented this job.

See also: Vingt- quatre Violons du Roy, for the composition of the French string orchestra.

Works (known)

• Leçons de Ténèbres
• Dominus regnavit Exultet terra
• Domine in virtute tua
• Quid tibi retribuam