Göteborg Baroque: Från ljus till mörker - Leçons de ténèbres

“Leçons de ténèbres” is the name of the predominantly French tradition of setting the biblical Lamentations to music.

Ténèbres means darkness and refers both to the physical darkness in the church – where a candle was traditionally extinguished after each movement – and to a symbolic sense of sorrow and reflection.

The music draws on texts from the Lamentations of Jeremiah and expresses powerful feelings of loss, stillness and hope. It is deeply intimate and expressive music, with the singing taking centre stage and conveying the depth of the text.

Intended to be performed during Holy Week, the music exists in many settings, the best-loved being François Couperin’s version, composed in 1714 for two voices, viola da gamba and organ. For many, this music is a firm favourite from the Baroque period, its pared-back, meditative character going straight to the heart.

The concert is presented with support from Sten A Olssons stiftelse, Västra Götalandsregionen, Göteborgs stad, Kulturrådet and Sensus.