Simphonies des noëls Les Violons du Roy Bernard Labadie ACD2 2742 • Les Violons du Roy is at the heart of the music scene in Quebec City and is a regular feature on the Montreal cultural calendar.   The orchestra is known throughout North America thanks to the many broadcasts of its concerts and recordings on CBC, Radio-Canada, and the American network NPR.   The ensemble makes regular visits to New York City, Chicago, and Los Angeles and has performed dozens of times in Europe at such legendary venues as the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and the Berliner Philharmonie. • Les Violons du Roy’s discography boasts 31 titles, including three Juno Award–winning albums and one Félix Award winner.   Eleven recordings have appeared on the ATMA Classique label. • ATMA Classique is proud to reissue Simphonies des noëls, the first recording with Les Violons du Roy and Bernard Labadie, released originally in 1994 on the Dorian Recordings label.   Even 20 years later, this album retains its original beauty and appeal. • Plain-chant has figured prominently in the church's Christmas celebrations since the Middle Ages.   Eventually polyphonic motets became popular, and by the Baroque era, cantatas, concertos or variations on songs well known to the faithful were added to the liturgy.   Simphonies des noëls features instrumental works celebrating the nativity by composers from France (de Lalande, Charpentier), Italy (Sammartini, Torelli, Corelli), and Germany (Pez). Michel Richard de Lalande (1657-1726) Simphonies des noëls [  1] Andante [  2] Trio [  3] Simphonie Marc-Antoine Charpentier (d.1704) Noëls pour les instruments [  4] Les bourgeois de Châtre [  5] Joseph est bien marié [  6] Or nous dites, Marie [  7] Laissez paître vos bêtes [  8] Vous qui dêsirez sans fin [  9] À la venue de Noël [10] O Créateur [11] Une jeune pucelle [12] Où s'en vont ces gais bergers? Giuseppe Sammartini (ca. 1693 - 1751) Concerto grosso in G minor, Op 5, No. 6 (Christmas Concerto/Concerto de Noël) [13] Spirtoso - Allegro - Spiritoso [14] Rondo (Allegro moderato e grazioso) [15] Pasrorale (Andante sostenuto) Giuseppe Torelli (1658 - 1709) Concerto a quattro Op. 8, No. 6 in forma di Pastorale per il Santissimo Natale (Christmas Concerto/Concerto de Noël) [16] Grave - Vivace [17] Largo [18] Vivace Johann Christoph Pez (1664 - 1716) Concerto pastorale in F Major [19] Pastorale [20] Aria [21] Aria [22] Aria (Pastorale) [23] Minuet - Trio [24] Passacaglia [25] Aria (Presto) Arcangelo Corelli (1653 - 1713) Concerto grosso en G Minor, Op. 6, No. 8 Fatto per la notte di natale (Christmas Concerto/Concerto de Noël) [26] Vivace - Grave [27] Allegro [28] Adagio - Allegro - Adagio [29] Vivace [30] Allegro - Pastrorale ad libitum ATMA Classique is distributed in Australia by Rockian Trading PO Box 44, Briar Hill, Vic, 3088, Australia Telephone +61 (0)3 9432 4149 ~ Facsimile +61 (0)3 9444 6879