Louis-Nicholas Clérambault

Louis-Nicholas Clérambault (born Dec. 19, 1676, Paris—died Oct. 26, 1749, Paris) was a French composer and organist whose secular chamber cantatas, his most important works, are esteemed for their grace and feeling.

Clérambault was organist at several Paris churches and at Saint-Cyr and held the post of music superintendent to Mme de Maintenon. His cantatas, published in five volumes (1710–26), were frequently drawn from classical subjects—e.g., Orphée, Léandre et Héro, Pigmalion. The recitatives are in the French style, but the arias are fluent and strong in the prevailing Italian tradition. The instrumental introductions or simphonies show a mastery of the concerto style. One of his best works was Le Soleil vainqueur (1721), a thanksgiving for Louis XV’s recovery from illness. He also composed a book of organ music, which ranks with the best organ music of his era; church music, including a Te Deum; and a volume of harpsichord music.