Charpentier, Marc-Antoine

significant French composer; b. Paris, c. 1645-50; d. there, Feb. 24, 1704. Charpentier studied with the well-known composer Giacomo Carissimi in Italy. After returning to Paris, he became active as a composer for the noted playwright Jean-Baptiste Moliere's acting troupe.

Charpentier had several important appointments to the nobility as well. He served Marie de Lorraine, the Duchess of Guise, working as her maître de musique (music master or director) until her death in 1688. Louis XIV granted him a pension in 1683, and he subsequently served as music teacher to Philippe, Duke of Chartres, was maître de musique to the Jesuit church of St. Louis, and finally held that post at Sainte-Chapelle from 1698 to 1704.

Charpentier was one of the leading French composers of his era, distinguishing himself in both sacred and secular works. His extensive output of sacred music includes 11 MASSES, 10 MAGNIFICATS, 4 TE DEUMS, 37 ANTIPHONS, 19 HYMNS, 84 PSALMS, and over 200 MOTETS, many akin to ORATORIOS. He also composed sacred instrumental works, secular instrumental pieces, and dances for strings.

Among his 30-odd stage works are the tragédies lyriques (lyric tragedies) David et Jonathas (1688) and Medée (1693), CANTATAS, OVERTURES, BALLET airs, PASTORALS, incidental pieces, airs serieux (serious songs), airs à boire (drinking songs), and so forth.