Nicolas de Grigny (1672 – 1703) shared the fate of many brilliant artists who left too soon. The simplicity of his known existence might conceal — wrongly — the excellence of his work and his considerable contribution to French music.
Around 1690 he went to Paris to perfect his art. There he rubbed shoulders notably with Louis Marchand, who would become one of the great Masters of Music at the Court. He thus frequented the best musicians of the era and absorbed numerous influences. Appointed holder a few years later at Saint-Denis, he quickly returned to Reims to be appointed titular organist of the famous Coronation Cathedral. His unique and major work, Le Livre d’Orgue, was even copied with “passion” by J.S. Bach…
Dialogues, counterpoints, plainsong, variations, fugues, varied récits… under an at once admiring, historical and musicological light, and following their usual taste and style — combining vocal, instrumental and narrative music —Comet Musicke lifts the veil on the secrets of Nicolas de Grigny fascinating work:

numerous excerpts from his Mass and from his Hymns
to illustrate the compositional context, some pieces relating to his training in Paris and to the obvious legacy of the older masters
particular attention paid to the Point d’Orgue sur les Grands Jeux
and finally, the heritage he himself left behind, with his mastery of the fugue

Performers
Benjamin Alard or Frédéric Rivoal – organ
Aude-Marie Piloz – viola da gamba
Francisco Mañalich – tenor & viola da gamba
Cyrille Métivier – vielle & cornett
Daniela Maltrain – viola da gamba