Les Paladins / Jérôme Correas COUPERIN Leçons de Ténèbres

‘A few years ago, I was composing three Leçons de Ténèbres pour le Vendredy Saint, at the request of the Dames Religieuses de L[ongchamps], where they were sung successfully [...] even though the singing is noted in the key above, every other voice type would be able to sing them, especially since most of the people who accompa- ny nowadays know how to transpose...’.

This is what François Couperin says in the preface of the Leçons de Ténèbres du Mercredy Saint, giving us some very useful insights for better understanding a work that we must listen to here without the context of a religious ceremony or a church. (Jérôme Correas)