All the Mornings of the World (1991)

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Marin Marais (1656-1728) – Sonnerie de Sainte-Geneviève du Mont de Paris "The Bells of St. Genevieve" from La Gamme et Autres Morceaux de Symphonie (1723)
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Performed by New Comma Baroque (Performed by Jordi Savall in the Film)
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Tous les matins du monde (English translation: All the Mornings of the World) is a 1991 French film based on the book of the same name. Set during the reign of Louis XIV, the film shows the eminent musician Marin Marais looking back on his young life when he tried to become a pupil of Monsieur de Sainte-Colombe, and features much music of the period, especially that for the viola da gamba. The title of the film is explained towards the end of the film; « Tous les matins du monde sont sans retour » ("all the mornings of the world never return") spoken by Marais in chapter XXVI of Quignard's novel when he learns of the death of Madeleine.

Synopsis

Ageing court composer Marin Marais recalls his former master and un-equalled viol player, the jansenist Monsieur de Sainte Colombe. Sainte Colombe buried himself in his music after the death of his wife bringing up his two daughters on his own, and teaching them to be musicians, and playing in a consort with them for local noble audiences. His reputation reaching the court of Louis XIV, the king sent an envoy, Caignet, to request him to play at court. But Sainte Colombe sent the envoy away as well as the abbé Mathieu, and shut himself away in a cabin in his garden in order to perfect the art of viol playing.

Actors