Cantique de Jean Racine
Encyclopedia
Cantique de Jean Racine is a work for mixed chorus
and piano
or organ
by Gabriel Fauré
. Written by the nineteen year old composer in 1864-5
, the piece won Fauré the first prize when he graduated from the École Niedermeyer and was first performed the following year on August 4, 1866, with accompaniment of strings and organ. It was first published around 1875 or 1876 (Schoen, Paris, as part of the series Echo des Maîtrises) and appeared in a version for orchestra (possibly by the composer) in 1906. The accompaniment has also been arranged for strings
and harp
by John Rutter
.
The text, "Verbe égal au Très-Haut", is a paraphrase by Jean Racine
(Hymnes traduites du Bréviaire romain, 1688) of the pseudo-ambrosian
hymn for Tuesday matins
, Consors paterni luminis.
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 ce 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 assemblé;
Reçois les chants qu'il offre à ta gloire immortelle,
Et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé.
Here is the original Latin text:
Consors paterni luminis,
Lux ipse lucis et dies,
Noctem canendo rumpimus:
Assiste postulantibus.
Aufer tenebras mentium,
Fuga catervas dæmonum,
Expelle somnolentiam
Ne pigritantes obruat.
Sic, Christe, nobis omnibus
Indulgeas credentibus,
Ut prosit exorantibus
Quod præcinentes psallimus.
Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
Tibi Patrique gloria
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
In sempiterna sæcula.
Amen.
The last verse (or doxology) has a variant:
Praesta, Pater Piissime,
Patrique, compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
Regnans per omne saeculum.
Amen.
Choir
A choir, chorale or chorus is a musical ensemble of singers. Choral music, in turn, is the music written specifically for such an ensemble to perform.A body of singers who perform together as a group is called a choir or chorus...
and piano
Piano
The piano is a musical instrument played by means of a keyboard. It is one of the most popular instruments in the world. Widely used in classical and jazz music for solo performances, ensemble use, chamber music and accompaniment, the piano is also very popular as an aid to composing and rehearsal...
or organ
Organ (music)
The organ , is a keyboard instrument of one or more divisions, each played with its own keyboard operated either with the hands or with the feet. The organ is a relatively old musical instrument in the Western musical tradition, dating from the time of Ctesibius of Alexandria who is credited with...
by Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Fauré
Gabriel Urbain Fauré was a French composer, organist, pianist and teacher. He was one of the foremost French composers of his generation, and his musical style influenced many 20th century composers...
. Written by the nineteen year old composer in 1864-5
1864 in music
- Events :* Anton Bruckner composes his Symphony No. 0 .* Jacques Offenbach's operetta La Belle Hélène debuts at the Paris Variétés .*Hans von Bülow takes over from Franz Lachner at the Munich opera.- Published popular music :...
, the piece won Fauré the first prize when he graduated from the École Niedermeyer and was first performed the following year on August 4, 1866, with accompaniment of strings and organ. It was first published around 1875 or 1876 (Schoen, Paris, as part of the series Echo des Maîtrises) and appeared in a version for orchestra (possibly by the composer) in 1906. The accompaniment has also been arranged for strings
String section
The string section is the largest body of the standard orchestra and consists of bowed string instruments of the violin family.It normally comprises five sections: the first violins, the second violins, the violas, the cellos, and the double basses...
and harp
Harp
The harp is a multi-stringed instrument which has the plane of its strings positioned perpendicularly to the soundboard. Organologically, it is in the general category of chordophones and has its own sub category . All harps have a neck, resonator and strings...
by John Rutter
John Rutter
John Milford Rutter CBE is a British composer, conductor, editor, arranger and record producer, mainly of choral music.-Biography:Born in London, Rutter was educated at Highgate School, where a fellow pupil was John Tavener. He read music at Clare College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the...
.
The text, "Verbe égal au Très-Haut", is a paraphrase by Jean Racine
Jean Racine
Jean Racine , baptismal name Jean-Baptiste Racine , was a French dramatist, one of the "Big Three" of 17th-century France , and one of the most important literary figures in the Western tradition...
(Hymnes traduites du Bréviaire romain, 1688) of the pseudo-ambrosian
Ambrose
Aurelius Ambrosius, better known in English as Saint Ambrose , was a bishop of Milan who became one of the most influential ecclesiastical figures of the 4th century. He was one of the four original doctors of the Church.-Political career:Ambrose was born into a Roman Christian family between about...
hymn for Tuesday matins
Matins
Matins is the early morning or night prayer service in the Roman Catholic, Anglican, Lutheran and Eastern Orthodox liturgies of the canonical hours. The term is also used in some Protestant denominations to describe morning services.The name "Matins" originally referred to the morning office also...
, Consors paterni luminis.
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 ce 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 assemblé;
Reçois les chants qu'il offre à ta gloire immortelle,
Et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé.
Here is the original Latin text:
Consors paterni luminis,
Lux ipse lucis et dies,
Noctem canendo rumpimus:
Assiste postulantibus.
Aufer tenebras mentium,
Fuga catervas dæmonum,
Expelle somnolentiam
Ne pigritantes obruat.
Sic, Christe, nobis omnibus
Indulgeas credentibus,
Ut prosit exorantibus
Quod præcinentes psallimus.
Sit, Christe, rex piissime,
Tibi Patrique gloria
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
In sempiterna sæcula.
Amen.
The last verse (or doxology) has a variant:
Praesta, Pater Piissime,
Patrique, compar Unice,
Cum Spiritu Paraclito
Regnans per omne saeculum.
Amen.