Héraclite et Démocrite

Cantata for soprano, bass , two violins and continuo

Jean Baptiste Stuck (known as Batistin) was, in spite of his German name, born in Italy, and came to Paris around 1705. He became well known as a composer of operas, and as one of the first performers to bring the cello into renown as a solo instrument. His cantatas were regarded by some as models of the genre; a contemporary editor, Bachelier, wrote that “His Cantatas brought him infinite honour….”

This duet cantata, Héraclite et Démocrite was performed at the Opéra in 1722. It is a relatively long work, with 5 Recits and 6 Airs, all of them da capo. The pessimism and optimism of the two allegorical characters provide wonderfully contrasting material, which are skillfully interwoven in the Duo sections. The mournful airs of Héraclite are heart-rendingly lovely. Quite unusual is the change in time from 12/8 to cut C in the ‘B’ section of Démocrite’s first Air. The complexity and lushness of the writing make this a work which should be better known.

The source for the cantata is the 1711 print of the third book of cantatas, published by Ballard, Pc Cons. [D. 14077 (3) in the Bibliothèque National de France.