Rosier, Rosiers, Carl Natalis, Charles Noël, *26 December 1640 Liège, †before 12 December 1725 Cologne, Flemish composer and violinist. From 1664 to 1673 he served at the court of the Elector of Cologne in Bonn, initially as a violinist and later as vice-Kapellmeister. After the dissolution of the court ensemble, he moved with the court to Cologne, where from at least 1691 until the end of his life he was vice-Kapellmeister of the court. From 1699 he simultaneously served as cathedral Kapellmeister, and from 1701 as municipal Kapellmeister. Between 1683 and 1699 he gave concerts in the Netherlands.
Quatorze sonate, as well as masses and motets preserved in manuscripts documenting Rosier’s work for the Cologne court, are written for larger ensembles. In the sacred concertos from both collections of Cantiones sacrae, solo passages and instrumental ritornellos play a significant role. Pièces choisies reveal the influence of the Italian sonata da camera, while the dance collection Antwerpsche vrede vreught also includes French overtures.
Literature: U. Niemöller Carl Rosier (1640–1725), Kölner Dom- und Ratskapellmeister, “Beiträge zur rheinischen Musikgeschichte” XXIII, Cologne 1957; A. Kräft Carl Rosier und seine Werke für Blockflöte: Sonata aus einem bisher kaum beachteten Manuskript, “Tibia: Magazin für Holzbläser” XXXVI, 2011.
Compositions:
Instrumental:
Antwerpsche vrede vreught for 3 instruments, pub. Amsterdam 1679 (also includes works by P. Picart)
Pièces choisies for 3 instruments, pub. Amsterdam 1691
Quatorze sonate for 5 instruments and basso continuo, pub. Amsterdam 1697
Französische Partien for 3 instruments, pub. Augsburg 1710 (lost)
Vocal- instrumental:
In fletu solatium, sive Cantiones sacrae for 3–4 voices, 3 instruments and basso continuo, pub. Cologne 1667
Motetta, sive Cantiones sacrae for 3–4 voices, 2 violini and basso continuo, pub. Cologne 1668
Surviving in manuscripts (among others in Paris, Bibliothèque Nationale):
2 trio sonatas
18 motets
12 masses
Editions:
3 works in Ausgewählte Instrumentalwerke, ed. U. Niemöller, «Denkmäler Rheinischer Musik» VII, Düsseldorf 1957
Zwei Triosonaten, ed. H. Ruf, «Hortus Musicus» CCXXXI, Kassel 1986
Acht Solosonaten, ed. A. Kräft, Magdeburg 2012
Sechs Triosonaten, ed. A. Kräft, Magdeburg 2013
Quatorze sonate, ed. W. Haas, W. Kessler, Cologne 2013
