CROSS-REFLECTIONS
FAURÉ, DURUFLÉ
Composition
16 or 24 singers
Style
Sacred Music
Instruments & Direction
Thierry ESCAICH or Thomas OSPITAL, organ
Christopher Gibert, direction
Contact
ABOUT THIS PROGRAM
Two requiems, two French choral monuments. Whether it's the gentle "lullaby of death" that evokes Gabriel Fauré's essential Requiem, or the more discreet but no less monumental Requiem by Maurice Duruflé.
"This Requiem is not an ethereal work that sings of detachment from earthly cares. It reflects man's anguish in the face of the mystery of his final end... It tends to express human feelings in the face of their terrifying, inexplicable or consoling destiny".
Duruflé's work here is filled with intense and profound faith. By reappropriating Gregorian chant and blending it with the gentle harmonies of his own writing, Maurice Duruflé has created a monument of sacred music.
The Quatre motets are in the same vein. Here we offer them alternated with improvised commentary on the organ, in the great tradition of French improvisation.
A programme rich in sonorities, subtleties and colours, in which the choir and the organ converse and reflect each other.
The music of our time, written by Thierry Escaich, completes the resonance with his predecessor at the organ loft of Saint-Etienne du Mont.
PROGRAM DETAILS
The special feature of this programme is that it has been designed "à la carte". Each part finds its coherence and balance with the different possible choices, leaving great flexibility and adaptability to the places where we sing it.
FIRST PART
Maurice DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) -
Four motets on Gregorian themes
(alternating with organ improvisations)
Thierry ESCAICH (1965- ) - “Sanctus” extrait of the “Messe Romane”
or
Maurice DURUFLÉ (1902-1986) - Messe cum Jubilo
Christopher GIBERT (1993- ) - “Salve Regina”
SECOND PART
Gabriel FAURÉ
Requiem version 1900
transcription for great-organ
or
Maurice DURUFLÉ
Requiem
choir and organ version
Program duration : about 1h15