In 1678, the post of court organist at the court of Versailles became vacant with the death of court organist Joseph Chabanceau de la Barre. The level of French organ playing was so high in those days that the king decided to appoint four organists, each of whom had to serve three months a year separately. Nicolas Lebègue, an organist of humble origins (his father was a miller), became organist
… for the fourth quarter. Lebègue's talents were highly appreciated by Louis XIV. Presumably the king will also have used Lebègue's talents as a harpsichordist. Lebègue also had a great reputation as a connoisseur of organ building and as a teacher. In 1676 the first book of Lebègue's "Pièces d'orgue" was published. The book, consisting of eight suites, contained many new elements for that time, although Lebègue modestly emphasized in the preface that he had not invented all these novelties himself. The third book contains four "Symphonies", nine "Noëls", eight "Élévations" and a separate work entitled "Les cloches". A selection from both books has been released on CD in a performance by Thierru Maeder. (HJ) _more