Manuscript document on vellum. Signed by the composer ("Delalande")

1696. Addressed to Delalande, "Surintendant de la musique de la chambre du Roy et de la musique de la chambre de sa Majesté, et Compositeur de la musique de sa chambre."

Lalande acknowledges receipt of wages for October-December, 1696

With small oval duty handstamp to head of royal device with "quittance" to left of device, "Six Sols" to right. Slightly worn and soiled; several very small holes. "In 1683, when the sous-maîtres Du Mont and Robert retired from the royal chapel, the king ordered a competition to replace them; 35 musicians took part (among them Charpentier, Desmarets, Lorenzani and Nivers). This number was narrowed to 15, who were all obliged to set the text of Psalm xxxii, Beati quorum; on the basis of these compositions (only Lalande's survives), four were chosen to share the responsibilities by quarters: Coupillet (January), Collasse (April), Minoret (July) and Lalande (October). According to the 'Discours', Louis XIV himself intervened to assure the quarter for Lalande, initiating his rise as a favoured court composer. A little over a year later, in January 1685, he was appointed compositeur de la musique de la chambre, sharing half the year with Collasse, the other half being controlled by Pierre Robert. In January 1689, aged 31, he became a surintendant de la musique de la chambre, the most coveted musical post at court."

A fine example from "the leading composer of the high Baroque grand motet at the French Court." James R. Anthony, revised by Lionel Sawkins in Grove Music Online.