François d'Agincourt (1684-1758)
- Missa in assumptione beata Mariae Virginis
Performers: Jean-Patrice Brosse (orgue); Choeur Gregorien Antiphona
Further info: D'agincourt - Missa
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French organist and composer. After his apprenticeship at Rouen he 
continued his training in Paris, probably with Lebègue. From 1701 to 
1706 he was organist of Ste Madeleine-en-la-Cité, Paris; he then 
succeeded Jacques Boyvin at Rouen Cathedral, a post he was to occupy, 
together with that of organist of St Herbland and of the abbey of St 
Ouen, until his death. In 1714 he was also appointed one of the four 
organists of the royal chapel and in 1726 organist of St Jean, Rouen. 
His Premier livre de clavecin, which contains 43 pieces, is the most 
remarkable of his works. It is similar to works by François Couperin, 
whom Dagincourt admired, particularly regarding its organization into 
ordres (d, F, D and E), its formal structures, the use of ornamentation 
and the presence of character-pieces, including personal or even dual 
portraits (e.g. Les deux cousines, La villerey ou les deux soeurs), 
genre scenes (Le colin maillard) and nature tableaux (Le val joyeux, Le 
moulin à vent, Les violettes fleuries). Notable pieces include La 
Couperin, an allemande in homage to Couperin, La sincopée, an attractive
 exploration of rhythm, and La moderne, which Dagincourt judged to be 
‘of a very different taste from the others’; it includes indications for
 changes of manual, and was written to meet the demand for novelty from 
amateurs. His organ pieces, which consist of short versets for 
ecclesiastical use, are classified according to the first six church 
modes (excluding mode 3). Their style, more advanced than that of 
similar works by Couperin, suggests a late date of composition; they 
exhibit galant characteristics and make frequent use of the diminished 
7th chord. The first three suites (on modes 1, 2 and 4) each consist of 
three short versets with an introductory Plein jeu of no more than 20 
bars and a short final dialogue. The remaining pieces, however, are 
rather more developed and make satisfying use of techniques already 
employed experimentally by Boyvin, as in the Concerts pour les flûtes 
with their florid lines and graceful triplets. He makes sensitive use of
 the basse de cromorne and the récit de nasard (usually in 6/8 or 3/8), 
and in the suite on mode 5 Dagincourt is particularly ambitious, in his 
setting of the second Plein jeu in the manner of a highly ornamental 
recitative and in his treatment of the ensuing Fugue and Cornet.

 
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