Etienne Moulinié
from Languedoc, France
January 1, 1600 - January 1, 1669 (age 69)
Biography
Moulinie served in a number of positions during the course of his career. He first sang with the Narbonne Cathedral and went to Paris in 1624. While in Paris Etienne became the director of music for Gaston of Orleans. (Gaston was the younger brother to the king.) While in service to Gaston, Moulinie also served as the master of music to Mademoiselle de Montpensier who was Gaston's daughter. Gaston died in 1660 and in 1661 Etienne became the director of music for the Langeudoc estates where he remained until his death. The genres of compositions by Etienne included airs in four and five parts with lute accompaniment. They were also scored without accompaniment and he also composed chansons and sacred songs. Moulinie's airs for the court were mostly typical characterized by their simplicity, syllabic settings and uniquely free rhythms. These works were quite popular and included such pieces as "Enfin la beaute," "D'ou sort cette grande clarite," and "Quay faut-il donc vous dire adieu." These airs, and others, were adapted by other composers in their works. Compositions by Moulinie demonstrated a keen sense of other cultural textures especially those of Spain and Italy. Some of these pieces were further transcribed into Germanic languages for their merits. His later works, all of which were influenced by Italian nuances, contain as elements polyphonic choruses, antiphonal settings, and figured bass. ~ Keith Johnson, Rovi
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