Paul Damance


Paul Damance was a French religious of the ordre de la sainte Trinité et rédemption des captifs, who had several masses in "musical plainsong" published between 1687 and 1707.

Biography

In addition to his membership of the Trinitarian Order, he claimed to be an organist of his convent in Lisieux. We have some documents that testify to his presence in the convent of Lisieux. His dedications reveal that he was in contact with several women's convents where plainsong was sung at the services.
The masses and additional pieces he published from 1687 onwards were composed in a style of musical plainsong in the taste of Henry Du Mont, that is to say a rather melodic plainsong, with indicated values and with some ornaments. It is mainly composed for women's convents.

Works

Plainchant

All the works below are available at the BnF, in original or in reproduction.
  • Messes en plain chant musical pour les festes solennelles propres aux religieuses qui chantent l'office divin... Paris: Jérôme Bonneuil, 1687. 4°, 20 p., engraved, noted plainchant. The privilege is dated 14 August 1657. Digitized on .
  • Trois messes en plain chant musical pour les festes solennelles, propres aux religieux et religieuses qui chantent l'office divin... Paris: Jérôme Bonneuil, 1687. 4°, 31 p., engraved, noted plainsong. Same privilege as above.
Dedication to Madame Catherine de Scorailles de Roussille, abbess of the Royal Abbey of Notre-Dame de Chelles. includes a Messe de sainte Catherine, a Messe de saint Benoît and a Messe de sainte Cécile.
  • Six messes en plein chant musical propres pour toutes les personnes qui chantent l'office divin... Paris: Christophe Ballard, 1701. 2°, 46 p., noted plainsong.
  • Addition aux messes en plein-chant musical composées par le R.P. P. D'Amance... Contenant deux messes, avec les élévations, de tons différents; le Magnificat, de quatre manières & tons différents; les Litanies de la Sainte Vierge; les élévations O Salutaris, & Panis angelicus, différentes de celles qui sont dans les messes; et le Domine salvum fac Regem, de trois manières et de tons différents. Paris : Christophe Ballard, 1707. 2°, II-46 p., noted plainsong. Digitized on .
In addition to these four editions, some of Damance's works can be found in liturgical manuscripts, for example::
  • Tournai, Bibliothèque de l'archevêché, MS 329. This stencil manuscript, signed by Mons, Typis Palumbinis, 1774 and which also contains masses of Henry Du Mont and François de La Feillée, includes the following pieces by Damance: 4 masses, 4 elevations and 2 magnificats.

Pieces for organ

  • Duo du 8eton. This piece for organ appears with the mention du Perre Paul Damance in the manuscript Paris BNF : Vm 7 1823.

Discography

  • André Raison, Messes d’orgue des 3rd andt 8th tons: plain-chant alterné d’Henry Du Mont. Jean-Patrice Brosse, organ, ensemble Vox Cantoris, dir. Jean-Christophe Candau. 1 CD Psalmus, 2010. The mass for organ of the 8th ton of Reason is alternated with the 6th ton mass by Paul Damance.