Partition
Partition
Partition
Chorleiterband, mit CD
Choral conductor’s score, with CD
Partition pour chef de chœur, avec CD
C_Carus 2.311
Inhalt /Contents / Table des matières
Alphabetisches Verzeichnis der Titel / Alphabetical index of titles / Liste alphabétique des titres
S./p./p.
Vorwort ����������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� IV
Avant-propos���������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� V
Foreword��������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������������� VI
Chorleiterband mit CD. Daneben ist eine Chorpartitur (editionchor) erhältlich (Carus 2.311/05).
Conductor’s score with CD. A choral score (editionchor) is also available (Carus 2.311/05).
Partition pour chef de chœur. Une partition de chœur (editionchor) est également disponible (Carus 2.311/05).
Alle Sätze in diesem Chorbuch können einzeln in Chorstärke beim Verlag bestellt werden.
All of the settings in this collection may be ordered from Carus as separate editions, in choral quantity only.
Tous les titres de ce recueil sont disponibles séparément chez Carus, seulement en nombre.
Übersetzungen der lateinischen und französischen Singtexte, Traduction des textes chantés en Latin et Français,
wenn nicht anders angegeben © Carus. sauf indication contraire © Carus.
Französisch: Denis Rouger, Bibeltexte nach Louis Segond 1910; Français : Denis Rouger, textes bibliques : d’après Louis Segond 1910;
Deutsch: Barbara Grossmann, Bibeltexte nach Luther 1545; Allemand : Barbara Grossmann, textes bibliques d’après Luther 1545;
Englisch: Gudrun und David Kosviner, Bibeltexte nach King James Version. Anglais : Gudrun et David Kosviner, textes bibliques d’après King
James Version.
Translation of the Latin and French singing texts,
unless otherwise s pecified © Carus.
French: Denis Rouger, biblical texts after Louis Segond 1910;
German: Barbara Grossmann, biblical texts after Luther 1545; Titelbild / Cover / Couverture: Jules Victor Génisson (1805–1860),
English: Gudrun and David Kosviner, biblical texts after King James Version. Intérieur de la Cathédrale d’Amiens, Ölgemälde 1842
Carus 2.311 V
Foreword
Church Music in France the instruments used. In this context, works such as Rameau’s
The history of church music in France oscillates between an Laboravi, which were probably performed with a 392 Hz tun-
orientation after the Gregorian tradition and temporary influ- ing (i.e., practically a whole tone lower than today) and there-
ences (such as, for example, opera in the Baroque era), and fore written in a high register, have been transposed here.
it is repeatedly marked by political discontinuities that are
also reflected in the compositions of their time. Not least of The CD Recording
all, the always passionate and turbulent relationship between The CD included in the choir director’s volume contains typi-
state and church left its mark: While the French kings still bore cal works of the French sacred repertoire from the first half of
the title “Most Christian Majesty”, a radical de-christianiza- the 20th century, some representative pieces in baroque poly-
tion took place during 1793/94, the period of the Revolution. phonic writing, and some special features such as the beautiful
Napoleon’s Concordat of 1801 created a temporary balance Messe mineure en ré by Philippe Mazé. The selected examples
between the secular and the spiritual world; the final separa- may serve to arouse the curiosity of performers to discover
tion of church and state was effected in 1905. After the Ref- and perform this repertoire, whether in concert or in liturgical
ormation, Protestant church music – which to the present day settings.
preserves a rich heritage of psalms and hymns – developed in
circumstances of great danger in Catholic-dominated France. Regarding Pronunciation
Nevertheless, it was supported time and again by high-ranking Since the beginning of the 20th century, the official pronunci-
personalities such as Margaret of Navarre. Despite the turbu- ation of Latin has been Roman (Italian). Although in France at
lence of the Revolution, in which important manuscripts were that time, three main variants of Latin pronunciation generally
irretrievably lost – part of the library of Notre-Dame Cathedral co-existed (that of the university, that of the Roman Catholic
in Paris was plundered and even thrown into the Seine at that Church and of course the so-called “French” pronunciation of
time – there are countless compositions that prove how prolific previous centuries), this question nowadays gives rise to pas-
the creation of music for the church always was, and contin- sionate debates and contradictory positions. Reliable sources
ued to be, in France. From the 12th/13th century Notre Dame testify that Gabriel Fauré performed his Requiem in the church
School with Leonin and Perotin to today’s composers, the artis- Sainte-Madeleine using Roman pronunciation, with probably
tic heritage is rich and varied, especially in terms of music for only a few exceptions. For works by Fauré, Saint-Saëns, etc.,
worship. Liberated from Cecilianism and Neo-Classicism, from one could choose the interpretation with Italian pronunciation,
the avant-garde music of the nineteen-sixties which was dif- without forgetting, however, that there were probably certain
ficult to reconcile with the liturgical repertoire, and from pop- divergences in performance practice. For Baroque music, on the
ulism which produced songs that were artistically too weak, other hand, one might choose the so-called French pronunci-
contemporary composers in France are faced with an ever ation, which, however, also varied according to place and time
topical and exciting challenge: to find a means of connecting (e.g., “Jésus” was pronounced [ʒezy] instead of [iɛzus]). The
people with God through music. choice of French pronunciation for the Baroque compositions
is not necessarily based on historical circumstances – insomuch
The Choir Collection as these can be unequivocally defined at all – but rather on
The present choir collection contains compositions from the the search for a sound appropriate to the musical style. Since
15th to the 21st century, well-known and unknown works, it is pithier and not so pliable, it enhances the dissonances and
including some new discoveries and first editions. The com- the harmonic structure which are characteristic for Baroque
posers are either of French nationality, French native speakers composers. Ultimately, however, it is only the performers who
or have spent a substantial part of their lives in France. Con- decide which pronunciation is to be used according to histori-
fessional and interdenominational, liturgical or concert pieces cal, technical and acoustic specifications.
of easy to medium difficulty, usually for four-part mixed choir
with some small further voice divisions were collected here I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to Carus-Verlag
according to a variety of criteria in order to be able to make and especially to my editor Barbara Grossmann who has sup-
this treasure available to today’s choirs. In terms of difficulty, ported me efficiently, competently and with great patience
solo parts can usually also be performed by the choir. The throughout so that this collection of 45 pieces could be pub-
French voice designations (Dessus, Taille etc.) were standard- lished in the Choir Book. We hope that this small overview will
ized according to current practice (SATB). A number of works arouse the curiosity of many choirs to discover the multifaceted
include an accompaniment for keyboard instrument (piano repertoire of French church music from seven centuries.
or organ). Any additional instruments were incorporated into
the piano reduction (“Réduction”). Some large motets – such Stuttgart, July 2018 Denis Rouger
as Delalande’s O filii et filiae – are presented in an abbrevi- Translation: Gudrun and David Kosviner
ated version. Most of the selected compositions are in Latin.
For these, German, French and English translations have been
provided. Works originally in French have of course also been
translated into German and English. For practical reasons, the
psalms are numbered according to the Hebrew Bible – which
is customary today – and not the Latin Vulgate. Since the alto
voices in Baroque and Classical repertoire were often sung by
men (“Haute-contre”) and are therefore set relatively low,
some pieces had to be transposed for present-day use. The
practice of transposing used to be common and even a mat-
ter of course, depending on the acoustics of the location and