Michel Lambert (1610 – 29 June 1696) was a French singer, theorbist, and composer.

Career

Lambert was born at Champigny-sur-Veude, France. He received his musical education as an altar boy at the Chapel of Gaston d'Orléans, a brother of king Louis XIII. He studied also with

Pierre de Nyert Pierre de Nyert (1597 in Bayonne – 1682 in Paris) was a 17th-century French opera singer. Biography First valet de chambre of Louis XIII and Louis XIV, Pierre de Nyert was sent to Rome in 1633 to perfect his vocal education. He borrowed from ...

in Paris. Since 1636, he was known as a singing teacher. In 1641, he married singer Gabrielle Dupuis who died suddenly a year later. Their daughter Madeleine (1643–1720) married

Jean-Baptiste Lully Jean-Baptiste Lully ( , , ; born Giovanni Battista Lulli, ; – 22 March 1687) was an Italian-born French composer, guitarist, violinist, and dancer who is considered a master of the French Baroque music style. Best known for his operas, he ...

in 1662. After his marriage, Lambert's career became closely linked to his sister-in-law and famous singer Hilaire Dupuis (1625–1709). In 1651, he appears as a ballet dancer at the court of Louis XIV. Beginning in 1656, his reputation as a composer was established and his compositions were regularly printed by Ballard. They consist mainly of airs on poems of

Benserade Isaac de Benserade (; baptized 5 November 161310 October 1691) was a French poet. Born in Lyons-la-Forêt, Normandy, his family appears to have been connected with Richelieu, who bestowed on him a pension of 600 ''livres''. He began his literar ...

and

Quinault Quinault may refer to: * Quinault people, an Indigenous people of the Pacific Northwest Coast **Quinault Indian Nation, a federally recognized tribe **Quinault language, their language People * Quinault family of actors, including * Jean-Baptis ...

. He was the most prolific composer of airs in the second half of the 17th century. In 1661, he succeeded Jean de Cambefort as a "Maître de musique de la chambre du roi" and kept this position until his death. In that time, Lully was the "Surintendant de la musique de la chambre du roi" (from 1661) and Master of Music of the royal family (from 1662). Lambert's role as a singing master ("Maître de chant") and composer of dramatic airs contributed to the creation of French tragédie lyrique. As a singing master, he enjoyed a reputation attested by many testimonies of his time (including singers

Anne de La Barre Anne, alternatively spelled Ann, is a form of the Latin female given name Anna. This in turn is a representation of the Hebrew Hannah, which means 'favour' or 'grace'. Related names include Annie. Anne is sometimes used as a male name in the ...

, Pierre Perrin, and La Cerf of Viéville). Titon du Tillet mentions concerts given at his house in

Puteaux Puteaux () is a commune in the western suburbs of Paris, France. It is located in the heart of the Hauts-de-Seine department, from the centre of Paris. In 2016, it had a population of 44,941. La Défense, Paris's business district hosting the ...

, during which Lambert accompanied himself on the theorbo. He also collaborated with Lully in the creation of several ballets (e.g. ''Ballet des amours déguisés''). He died in Paris, France.

Works

* ''Airs du sieur Lambert'', Paris, Charles de Sercy (1658) * ''Les Airs de Monsineur Lambert'', 19 airs with doubles, for two voices and basso continuo, Paris (1660) * ''Airs de Monsieur Lambert non imprimez'', manuscript, Paris (c. 1692) * ''Pièces en trio pour les violons, flûtes ou hautbois'', Amsterdam, Estienne Roger (1700) * ''75 airs de Monsieur Lambert'' (manuscript) (50 with doubles), for a voice and basso continuo (c. 1710) * ''Leçons de ténèbres pour voix et basse continue'' manuscript (1662-1663) - recorded by Marc Mauillon 2017 * ''Leçons de ténèbres pour voix et basse continue'' manuscript (1689) - recorded by Piveteau * ''60 airs'' for 1-5 voices, two instruments and basso continuo, Paris (1689) * ''Miserere mei Deus'' for 2-3 voices and basso continuo, manuscript

References

External links

* * {{DEFAULTSORT:Lambert, Michel 1610 births 1696 deaths 17th-century classical composers French Baroque composers French ballet composers French male classical composers People from Indre-et-Loire Theorbists 17th-century male musicians