The Centre de musique baroque de Versailles has released some 350 scores and over 2,000 published works, representing the most complete catalogue of 17th and 18th century French sheet music.
The Centre de musique baroque de Versailles publishes 17th and 18th century French music. It includes vocal, instrumental, orchestral and stage productions by early 17th century composers from the reign of Louis XIII (e.g. Eustache Du Caurroy, Nicolas Formé, Étienne Moulinié and Pierre Guédron), and up until the French Revolution (e.g. Henri-Joseph Rigel, François-Joseph Gossec and Antoine Dauvergne), and features iconic figures such as Jean-Baptiste Lully, Marc-Antoine Charpentier, Nicolas Clérambault, François Couperin, Jean-Joseph Cassanéa de Mondonville and Jean-Philippe Rameau. Centre de musique baroque de Versailles publications showcase one of the most intensely creative periods in the history of Western music.
CMBV publications are subjected to rigorous editing. The reference music source is substantiated by thorough historical and musicological research, and inputs scientific debate. Editing complies with stringent scientific norms and allows students, musicians and researchers access to the original source.
Special attention is also paid to the ergonomics of the sheet music – legibility, print quality and the provision of separate voice parts and orchestral material.
Collections of sheet music
COLLECTIONS PER TYPE OF MUSIC
Sheet music are categorised in the catalogue in collections per type of music:
- Instrumental music: sheet music for solo instruments, chamber music and orchestra;
- Vocal music: sheet music for solo voices, vocal ensembles, choirs and choir + orchestra;
- Incidental music: operas
- Compilation of airs: complete opera arias, by Lully, Rameau or Gluck, arranged per tessitura, with keyboard accompaniment.
NATIONAL HERITAGE SCIENTIFIC COLLECTIONS
The Centre de musique baroque de Versailles publishes two national heritage scientific collections, Monumentales and Anthologies.
- Monumentales features the complete works of the following composers:
- I - Marc-Antoine Charpentier
- II - Henry Du Mont
- III - Sébastien de Brossard
- IV - Etienne Moulinié
- V - Henry Desmarest
- VI - Pierre Robert
- Anthologies features baroque masterpieces:
- I – music from French choir schools
- II - instrumental music
- III - motets
- IV – music for the stage
- V - arias
The musical works are processed exhaustively per corpus, and each volume is edited by a distinguished musicologist, the preface containing not only historical and contextual details but also useful corpus information. These heritage publications act as references, help fuel scientific debate and inform musicians of the latest advances in musicology.
Publication formats
All CMBV publications come in different formats according to the musician: conductors, reprints, concert kits, material for voice, voice & keyboard, voice & continuo, continuo, orchestral material, etc.
All formats are for sale, except certain operatic works or material for large orchestral works.
Orchestral material for rent
Separate parts of works requiring a large orchestra may be rented as sets, e.g. grands motets, masses, symphonies and operas, at a set price, whatever the number of performances, for a maximum of one year.
Digital sheet music
The Centre de musique baroque de Versailles will shortly be releasing publications in downloadable PDF form.
Partnerships with musicians
The CMBV editorial team includes scientific and music experts, offering a wide range of project or music partnership opportunities. The CMBV works with musicians to research repertoire, with Arts Councils to promote French cultural heritage, as well as with opera houses, teachers, publishers, scientists, etc. Many concerts have been performed using CMBV sheet music, and feedback from musicians provides useful input, to fit with editorial imperatives, musical performance, heritage goals, operating conditions, etc.