Valladier on the royal entry of queen Marie de’ Medicis to Avignon, November 19, 1600.

[André Valladier, Abbé de S. Arnoul de Metz] Labyrinthe Royal de l’Hercule gaulois triomphante…Représenté à l’Entrée triomphante de la Royne en la cité d’Avignon le 19 Novembre l’An MDC… Avignon, J. Bramereau, s.d. [1601] p. 171.

“A la semonce que faisoit Hercules, le choeur du char triomphant, composé de voix et d’instruments, avoit esté aposté pour chanter la guerre de Ianequin à l’assaut de l’Hydre: mais ils se perdit au besoin, se laissant rompre et desplacer par les foules… toutes les trompetes qui avoient eu à ces fins leur rendés vous en laudicte place avoient commandement de fanfarer la recharge et désveiller Hercules à un nouvel assaut. Elles disparurent aussi bien que les chantres…”

The musicians involved were probably planning on performing an excerpt from “La Guerre” as a performance of the whole piece would not have suited the quickly changing dynamics of a parade. Since they were necessarily outdoors, they probably had trumpets to attract attention, while the choristers sang properly martial and patriotic text excerpts. (The fact that both trumpet players and singers were present is not in itself evidence that they performed the piece together.)

The passage suggests that in 1600, 72 years after it’s initial publication, “La guerre” was still a well known and traditional choice for pompous occasions.