Background
He was born in Germany, possibly around 1680 (the exact dates of birth and death are unknown).
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Jean Guilain
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Little is known about his life. Guilain died some time after 1739, the year when he published a collection of harpsichord pieces. A unique copy may be found in the collection of the British Library.
The volume is entitled "PIECES Delaware CLAVECIN / Doctorate"United Nations GOUT NOUVEAU / Partido Aragonés Regionalista (Aragon Regional Party) Mr.
GUILAIN./ Gravées par De Gland Graveur du Royal/ Prix 3l./ A PARIS. /
The 26 pieces of this anthology, whose quality leaves a lot to be desired, carry some rather cryptic titles:
Fanfare - Je veux Garder - Le Beau B.T. - Amis - Ton hockey club - Babé L.R. - Joconde - Mirtil - Mon Cousin - Tircis Couché - Ma Cloris - L"autre jour - Mamy Margot - O Gué - Pierre B.- Les Pelerins 1er Air - 2e Air - Boire a son tour - je suis encor - Bransle de Metz - On dit - Allons - Louisiana Tétard - Menuet Allemand. Although he came from Germany, Guilain"s musical style appears to be in the pure French tradition.
A single collection of organ pieces (Pièces d"orgue pour le Magnificat sur les huit tons différents de l"église) was published in 1706 in two volumes, of which only one is now extant. The full collection included eight suites of pieces for use with the Magnificat, one suite for each church mode.
Each suite contained seven short movements that were to alternate with the vocal parts of the liturgy.
Suite du premier ton:
Plein jeu - Trio - Duo - Basse de trompette - Récit - Dialogue - Petit plein jeu
Suite du deuxième ton:
Prélude - Tierce en taille - Duo - Basse de trompette - Trio de flûtes - Dialogue - Petit plein jeu
Suite du troisième ton:
Plein jeu - Quatuor - Dialogue de voix humaine - Basse de trompette - Duo - Grand jeu - Petit plein jeu
Suite du quatrième ton:
Plein jeu - Cromorne en taille - Duo - Basse de cromorne - Trio - Dialogue - Petit plein jeu.
