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St. Cecilia Mass

January 01, 1970

For Haydn's Cäcilien-Messe, see Missa Cellensis in honorem Beatissimae Virginis Mariae.

St. Cecilia Mass is the common name of a solemn mass in G major by Charles Gounod, composed in 1855 and scored for three soloists, mixed choir, orchestra and organ. The official name is Messe solennelle en l’honneur de Sainte-Cécile, in homage of St. Cecilia, the patron saint of music. The work was assigned CG 56 in the catalogue of the composer's works.

St. Cecilia Mass
by Charles Gounod
The composer, 1859
Native nameMesse solennelle en l’honneur de Sainte-Cécile
CatalogueCG 56
FormMass
TextOrder of Mass
LanguageLatin
Performed22 November 1855 (1855-11-22) Saint-Eustache, Paris
Movements6
Vocal
  • SATTBB choir
  • solo: soprano, tenor and bass
Instrumental
  • orchestra
  • organ

History edit

The first work by Gounod performed in public was on 1 May 1841 a mass at the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, Rome.[1] The St. Cecilia Mass was his first major work. Parts of it, the Sanctus and Benedictus, were performed in London on 13 January 1851, together with works such as Mendelssohn's Die erste Walpurgisnacht. Gounod's new music was acclaimed in the press, rendering details and culminating in an enthusiastic summary: "It is ... the work of a thoroughly trained artist – and what is more, the poetry of a new poet". The review was published in Paris and raised expectations. The premiere was performed on St. Cecilia's day, 22 November 1855, in Saint-Eustache, Paris, where it was customary to celebrate the day by the performance of a new mass. The conductor was Théophile Tilmant.[2]

Text edit

The Order of Mass is slightly extended. In the Gloria, the prayer miserere nobis (have mercy on us) is intensified by an added Domine Jesu (Lord Jesus). The mass has an instrumental offertory. In the Agnus Dei, the soloists sing between the three invocations the text "Domine, non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum, sed tantum dic verbo, et sanabitur anima mea" (Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say a word and I shall be healed), sung once by the tenor and again by the soprano. The movement ends with an added Amen. The piece concludes with the text, "Domine, salvum fac Imperatorem nostrum Napoleonum, et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te" (Lord, bless our Emperor Napoleon and hear our prayer this day that we call you), sung once as Prière de l'Eglise (prayer of the church) by the choir a cappella after a short instrumental introduction, the second time as Prière de l'Armée (prayer of the army) by the tenors, basses, and brass, and the third time as Prière de la Nation (prayer of the nation) by the choir with orchestra. The changes have been criticized as not liturgically strict.[3]

Scoring and structure edit

The vocal parts of the mass are performed by three soloists (soprano, tenor and bass) and a choir of four parts, sometimes with divided tenor and bass. The soloists act mostly as an ensemble, without arias. Gounod scored the mass for a large orchestra, demanding six harps. In Gloria and Sanctus, he highlighted passages by pistons (cornets),[4] typical instruments of the romantic French orchestra. In Benedictus and Agnus Dei, he was the first composer to use the newly developed octobass, a string instrument of the violone family. He included the great organ, mostly in Grand jeu.

In the following table of the movements, the markings, keys and time signatures are taken from the choral score, using the symbol for alla breve (2/2).[5][6]

No. Parte Incipit Vocal Marking Tono Tempo
I Kyrie STBSATB Moderato, quasi Andantino G major  
II Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo SSATB Larghetto D major  
Et in terra pax STBSATB Allegro pomposo
Domine Fili unigenite Andante G major
Quoniam tu solus sanctus Allegro, tempo I D major
III Credo Credo in unum Deum SATB Moderato molto maestoso C major  
Et incarnatus est SABSATB Adagio
Crucifixus G minor
Et resurrexit SATTBB Tempo primo C major
Offertory Adagio molto A♭ major  
IV Sanctus TSATTBB Andante F major 9
8
V Benedictus SSATTBB Adagio B-flat major  
VI Agnus Dei Agnus Dei SATB Andante moderato D major 12
8
Domine, non sunt dignus T
Agnus Dei SATB
Domine, non sunt dignus S
Agnus Dei SATTB
VII Domine salvum fac Prière de l'Eglise SATTB Largo G major  
Prière de l'Armée TB Un peu anima. et très un menuré.
Prière de la Nation SATB Slower

Reception edit

Camille Saint-Saens commented after the premiere:

"The appearance of the Messe Saint-Cécile caused a kind of shock. This simplicity, this grandeur, this serene light which rose before the musical world like a breaking dawn, troubled people enormously. … at first one was dazzled, then charmed, then conquered."[6]

He ranked the mass among the best works by Gounod:

"In the faint distant future when inexorable time has completed its work and the operas of Gounod are forever in repose in the dusty sanctuary of libraries, the Messe de Sainte Cécile, the Rédemption and the oratorio Mors et Vita will still retain life."[6]

The Sanctus was used in Werner Herzog's film Nosferatu the Vampyre (1979).

Selected recordings edit

References edit

  1. ^ A Dictionary of Music and Musicians, s.v. "Gounod, Charles".
  2. ^ Thrall, Josephine (1908). (PDF). The American History and Encyclopedia of Music. pp. 345–348. Archived from the original (PDF) on 27 June 2014. Retrieved 22 September 2016.
  3. ^ Henry, Hugh Thomas (1907). "Agnus Dei (in Liturgy)" . In Herbermann, Charles (ed.). Catholic Encyclopedia. Vol. 1. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
  4. ^ In French, piston is a shortened form of cornet à pistons, the instrument known in English as a cornet; a piston is a modern invention.
  5. ^ Cookson, Michael. "Charles Gounod (1818–1893) / Solemn Mass (Saint Cecilia Mass) for soloists, mixed choir, orchestra and organ (1855)". musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 17 December 2014.
  6. ^ a b c Eriksson, Erik. "Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile for soloists, chorus, orchestra & organ in G major". Allmusic. Retrieved 17 December 2014.

Sources edit

External links edit

  • Max Derrickson: Gounod – Messe solennelle de Sainte Cécile musicprogramnotes.com

January 01, 1970
cecilia, mass, haydn, cäcilien, messe, missa, cellensis, honorem, beatissimae, virginis, mariae, common, name, solemn, mass, major, charles, gounod, composed, 1855, scored, three, soloists, mixed, choir, orchestra, organ, official, name, messe, solennelle, hon. For Haydn s Cacilien Messe see Missa Cellensis in honorem Beatissimae Virginis Mariae St Cecilia Mass is the common name of a solemn mass in G major by Charles Gounod composed in 1855 and scored for three soloists mixed choir orchestra and organ The official name is Messe solennelle en l honneur de Sainte Cecile in homage of St Cecilia the patron saint of music The work was assigned CG 56 in the catalogue of the composer s works St Cecilia Massby Charles GounodThe composer 1859Native nameMesse solennelle en l honneur de Sainte CecileCatalogueCG 56FormMassTextOrder of MassLanguageLatinPerformed22 November 1855 1855 11 22 Saint Eustache ParisMovements6VocalSATTBB choir solo soprano tenor and bassInstrumentalorchestraorgan Contents 1 History 2 Text 3 Scoring and structure 4 Reception 5 Selected recordings 6 References 7 Sources 8 External linksHistory editThe first work by Gounod performed in public was on 1 May 1841 a mass at the church of San Luigi dei Francesi Rome 1 The St Cecilia Mass was his first major work Parts of it the Sanctus and Benedictus were performed in London on 13 January 1851 together with works such as Mendelssohn s Die erste Walpurgisnacht Gounod s new music was acclaimed in the press rendering details and culminating in an enthusiastic summary It is the work of a thoroughly trained artist and what is more the poetry of a new poet The review was published in Paris and raised expectations The premiere was performed on St Cecilia s day 22 November 1855 in Saint Eustache Paris where it was customary to celebrate the day by the performance of a new mass The conductor was Theophile Tilmant 2 Text editThe Order of Mass is slightly extended In the Gloria the prayer miserere nobis have mercy on us is intensified by an added Domine Jesu Lord Jesus The mass has an instrumental offertory In the Agnus Dei the soloists sing between the three invocations the text Domine non sum dignus ut intres sub tectum meum sed tantum dic verbo et sanabitur anima mea Lord I am not worthy to receive you but only say a word and I shall be healed sung once by the tenor and again by the soprano The movement ends with an added Amen The piece concludes with the text Domine salvum fac Imperatorem nostrum Napoleonum et exaudi nos in die qua invocaverimus te Lord bless our Emperor Napoleon and hear our prayer this day that we call you sung once as Priere de l Eglise prayer of the church by the choir a cappella after a short instrumental introduction the second time as Priere de l Armee prayer of the army by the tenors basses and brass and the third time as Priere de la Nation prayer of the nation by the choir with orchestra The changes have been criticized as not liturgically strict 3 Scoring and structure editThe vocal parts of the mass are performed by three soloists soprano tenor and bass and a choir of four parts sometimes with divided tenor and bass The soloists act mostly as an ensemble without arias Gounod scored the mass for a large orchestra demanding six harps In Gloria and Sanctus he highlighted passages by pistons cornets 4 typical instruments of the romantic French orchestra In Benedictus and Agnus Dei he was the first composer to use the newly developed octobass a string instrument of the violone family He included the great organ mostly in Grand jeu In the following table of the movements the markings keys and time signatures are taken from the choral score using the symbol for alla breve 2 2 5 6 No Parte Incipit Vocal Marking Tono Tempo I Kyrie STBSATB Moderato quasi Andantino G major nbsp II Gloria Gloria in excelsis Deo SSATB Larghetto D major nbsp Et in terra pax STBSATB Allegro pomposo Domine Fili unigenite Andante G major Quoniam tu solus sanctus Allegro tempo I D major III Credo Credo in unum Deum SATB Moderato molto maestoso C major nbsp Et incarnatus est SABSATB Adagio Crucifixus G minor Et resurrexit SATTBB Tempo primo C major Offertory Adagio molto A major nbsp IV Sanctus TSATTBB Andante F major 98 V Benedictus SSATTBB Adagio B flat major nbsp VI Agnus Dei Agnus Dei SATB Andante moderato D major 128 Domine non sunt dignus T Agnus Dei SATB Domine non sunt dignus S Agnus Dei SATTB VII Domine salvum fac Priere de l Eglise SATTB Largo G major nbsp Priere de l Armee TB Un peu anima et tres un menure Priere de la Nation SATB SlowerReception editCamille Saint Saens commented after the premiere The appearance of the Messe Saint Cecile caused a kind of shock This simplicity this grandeur this serene light which rose before the musical world like a breaking dawn troubled people enormously at first one was dazzled then charmed then conquered 6 He ranked the mass among the best works by Gounod In the faint distant future when inexorable time has completed its work and the operas of Gounod are forever in repose in the dusty sanctuary of libraries the Messe de Sainte Cecile the Redemption and the oratorio Mors et Vita will still retain life 6 The Sanctus was used in Werner Herzog s film Nosferatu the Vampyre 1979 Selected recordings editIgor Markevitch Irmgard Seefried Gerhard Stolze Hermann Uhde Tschechischer Sangerchor Prag Tschechische Philharmonie recorded in Prague 1965 Jean Claude Hartemann Pilar Lorengar Heinz Hoppe Franz Crass Orchestre de la Societe des Concerts du Conservatoire recorded in St Roch before 1963 Mariss Jansons Luba Orgonasova Christian Elsner Gustav Belacek Bavarian Radio Chorus and Radio Symphony Orchestra recorded live at Herkulessaal Munich in 2007References edit A Dictionary of Music and Musicians s v Gounod Charles Thrall Josephine 1908 Messe Solennelle in Oratorios and Masses PDF The American History and Encyclopedia of Music pp 345 348 Archived from the original PDF on 27 June 2014 Retrieved 22 September 2016 Henry Hugh Thomas 1907 Agnus Dei in Liturgy In Herbermann Charles ed Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 1 New York Robert Appleton Company In French piston is a shortened form of cornet a pistons the instrument known in English as a cornet a piston is a modern invention Cookson Michael Charles Gounod 1818 1893 Solemn Mass Saint Cecilia Mass for soloists mixed choir orchestra and organ 1855 musicweb international com Retrieved 17 December 2014 a b c Eriksson Erik Messe solennelle de Sainte Cecile for soloists chorus orchestra amp organ in G major Allmusic Retrieved 17 December 2014 Sources editMesse solennelle de Sainte Cecile Scores at the International Music Score Library Project Free scores of St Cecilia Mass in the Choral Public Domain Library ChoralWiki External links editMax Derrickson Gounod Messe solennelle de Sainte Cecile musicprogramnotes com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title St Cecilia Mass amp oldid 1208445645, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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