In the Baroque era, during Lent, theatres and concert halls were closed as a sign of repentance. The composers then expressed themselves exclusively via liturgical music, delivering works of great sobriety as well as of extraordinarily expressive power. Leçons de ténèbres are scores composed for the services of the last three days of Holy Week, which concludes Lent before Easter. The texts used, taken from the Lamentations of Jeremiah, relate to the loneliness of Jesus before his crucifixion. The overwhelming music composed by Couperin on this theme was played according to the ritual of the service, which was held after dark. At the end of each piece, one of the candles that lit the church was extinguished, which symbolised the gradual abandonment of Christ by his disciples. Once the church was plunged into total darkness, the terrible Miserere resounded, imploring divine forgiveness.