Michel Corrette : Noël “Où s’en vont ces gais bergers”

In 1741, Michel Corrette, Organiste at the prestigious Ste Marie du Temple in Paris, published a set of Noëls. These were written as 4 suites. The first three contained 4 Noëls and the 4th one had 7. A concluding Carillon going through every possible key concluded the set. As was the French custom, the organist would play variations of well known French Christmas Carols. On many occasions, the organist would simply improvise. However, some composers would go to the trouble to have them engraved and published. Corrette was very much a pedagogue and was keen to instruct others in his craft. He was a prolific composer and had written 17 methods including singing, playing the flute, the violin, hurdy-gurgy and so forth. Perhaps the most famous of these was Louis-Claude Daquin who was considered the best ‘Noëliste’.

I performed this word during a recital in December 2009. It was one of the most joyous of the set which Corrette wrote.