Leçons de Ténèbres is a genre that became popular in France in the 17th and 18th century.  It’s a set of texts from the Vulgate version of the Book of Jeremiah to be sung on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday of Easter week.  Over time setting these texts became something of a competitive exercise as they came to play a similar role to Handel’s oratorios in 18th century England.  They were musical works that one could listen to during Lent when most other musical outlets were unavailable.  The fashionable set would roam from church to church in search of the finest settings and the finest singers. Continue reading →