Pierre Desvignes

Born in Velars-sur-Ouche (Burgundy) (modern department of Côte-d'Or), from a family of modest farmers, Desvignes was quickly noticed for his voice and admitted as Altar server (child singing in the choir) of the Église Saint-Étienne de Dijon [fr].

Desvignes stayed only a few months in this position, which he left in 1782 to become chapel master at the Chartres Cathedral, an important place in the kingdom, where he made himself known as a composer of sacred music.

Despite a cruel lack of financial resources (because the Ancien Regime had not been resurrected), Desvignes then worked to restore the educational establishment abolished by the Revolution (the Christian religion and all its manifestations had been banned in 1793, under the Reign of Terror, while the cathedral had been transformed into a Temple of Reason).

In this position, Desvignes trained quite a few young people who played a role in the development of French music of that time.

Among his most striking creations, the Lamentations de Jérémie (text taken from the Bible is worth mentioning, quite often set to music), his Te Deum and, particularly, a Funeral March for 5-part choir and orchestra, curiously written from the liturgical Pie Jesu.