Près de votre oreille, Robin Pharo

The year 1645 marked a great loss for English music. Amid the turmoil of the Civil War, William Lawes was killed on September 24 during the siege of Chester, a stronghold defended by royalists loyal to King Charles I. At just 43, the untimely death of Henry Lawes’ younger brother was widely mourned by the musical community. Rightly so: his work is marked by flashes of genius. Though little known today, William Lawes’ work stands out for its inventiveness and the choice of musical formations. Particularly in his Harp Consorts, likely composed for the intimate setting of King Charles I’s court, which included several harpists. These Consorts offer one of the earliest examples of this avant-garde spirit and the composer’s creativity, leaving us one of the first scores specifically written for the harp. To accompany these works, we present an even lesser-known part of William Lawes' oeuvre that truly showcases the musician's talent. Choice Psalmes, a posthumous publication by Henry Lawes in 1648, reveals sublime psalms set to music by his younger brother for three voices and continuo. Discover the fascinating and always moving universe of one of the great figures in the history of English music.

Flagey, Festival Musiq3