A masterpiece by the young Gabriel Fauré, written for a composition competition at the École Niedermeyer de Paris. It won him first prize. The work was first performed the following year (August 4, 1866) in a version accompanied by strings and organ. César Franck, to whom the work is dedicated, conducted it in possibly the same version an orchestral concert on May 15, 1875. The work also appeared in a full orchestral version (possibly by Fauré himself) in 1906. The accompaniment has been arranged several times, including for strings and harp by John Rutter. The text, "Verbe égal au Très-Haut" ("Word, one with the Most High"), is a French paraphrase by Jean Racine of a Latin hymn from the Matins Breviary, Consors paterni luminis.
The work is for four-part mixed choir (SATB), the tempo indication is Andante, and the key is D flat major. The instrumental introduction contains three elements: a quiet melody imitated by the voices, a similarly quiet bass, and a flowing middle part in uninterrupted triplets. The voices enter one after the other, beginning with the lowest, each presenting half a line of text, while the lower voices accompany in homophony. The second verse is separated from the first by a short interlude similar to the introduction, while the third and final verse follows immediately as a recapitulation. The writing for the voices is both transparent and well balanced. Models such as Mendelssohn and Gounod come to mind, but we also hear a personal style. It has been noted that the long, sweeping melodies and strong melodic and harmonic appoggiaturas testify to the romantic side of the piece, but there is also a definite contemporary tinge to the writing, hidden in very minute and well-justified atonal note choices in the harmonic structure and melody. After ten years of training at the liturgical school, Fauré was able to set this inspiring text with a wonderfully restrained and respectful charm.
The Cantique de Jean Racine already bore the hallmarks of Fauré's later Requiem, composed in 1887. Both works have often been performed together in concerts and recordings. This is wonderful, uplifting and comforting music. Let there be light, let there be hope.
Here is the text:
(French original)
Verbe égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance,
Jour éternel de la terre et des cieux,
De la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence:
Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux.
Répands sur nous le feu de Ta grâce puissante;
Que tout l'enfer fuie au son de Ta voix;
Dissipe le sommeil d'une âme languissante
Qui la conduit à l'oubli de Tes lois!
Ô Christ! sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle,
Pour Te bénir maintenant rassemblé;
Reçois les chants qu'il offre à Ta gloire immortelle,
Et de Tes dons qu'il retourne comblé.
(English translation)
Word of the Highest, our only hope,
Eternal day of earth and the heavens,
We break the silence of the peaceful night;
Saviour Divine, cast your eyes upon us!
Pour on us the fire of your powerful grace,
That all hell may flee at the sound of your voice;
Banish the slumber of a weary soul,
That brings forgetfulness of your laws!
O Christ, look with favour upon your faithful people
Now gathered here to praise you;
Receive their hymns offered to your immortal glory;
May they go forth filled with your gifts.
Listen to: Nederlands Kamerkoor and Amsterdam Sinfonietta, in the Pieterskerk in Leiden, the Netherlands (a wonderful performance and beautiful registration!):
[Includes edited text from the Dutch and English Wikipedia articles about Faure's Cantique]
Choral Masterworks