Faure - Cantique De Jean Racine Op.11 (1865)

As part of a "Faure fest", I'll be singing the 'Cantique De Jean Racine' in the spring at Worcester Cathedral. This was written whilst Faure was studying at the École Niedermeyer with which he won first prize when he graduated. Like much of Faure's choral writing it is very restrained but passionate; it's not dramatic and in your face, instead he gains power through the intensity of his music. 

Originally composed for organ and choir, Faure writes a simply organ accompaniment based on triplet broken chords in the right hand and sustained notes in the left hand / feet. The text by Jean Racine is in three verses, which Faure sets to music in ternary form. The music of the first verse begins with the basses entering pp, followed with each voice part entering from the bottom up. The dynamics gradually build, in keeping with the lyrics "We break the silence of the peaceful night; Saviour Devine, cast thine eyes upon us" as the writing becomes homophonic before a diminuendo brings the verse to an end. 

The second verse, coupled with the second section of the piece, begins with quiet homophonic writing, which gradually builds in intensity and dynamic. The accompaniment changes; the triplets are maintained, but the broken chords are replaced. Additional melodic lines are added to the right hand. A sudden p passage sees the accompaniment reverting back to the style of the first verse. A bass interjection, followed by the other voices in ascending order changes the mood and character of the verse, the dynamics build to the end of the verse. 

The basses immediately continue with the third verse, returning to the same music as the first verse. As the sopranos enter, the tenors and basses sing different music to the first verse; call and response phrases in a rising sequence to aid the music to build to another f section before decrescendo-ing to the end of the praise. The accompaniment continues, and the choir repeat the last two lines of the verse separately, gradually descending down to a subtle ppp finish.