Jean Racine
(22 December 1639-21 April 1699)
Cantique de Jean Racine (French)
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 le sommeil d'une âme languissante
qui la conduit à l'oubli de tes lois!
O Christ sois favorable à ce peuple fidèle
pour te bénir maintenant rassemblé;
reçois les chants qu'il offre
à ta gloire immortelle,
et de tes dons qu'il retourne comblé.
Canticle of Jean Racine (English)
Word equal to the Most High,
our unique hope,
eternal day of the Earth and of the Heavens,
we break the silence of the peaceful night;
Divine Saviour, cast your eyes upon us;
Spread out over us the fire of your mighty grace
so that Hell itself flees at the sound of your voice.
Dispel the slumber of a pining soul
which drives it to forget your laws!
O Christ, show favor to these faithful people
now assembled to praise you.
Receive these songs that they offer
to your immortal glory,
and these full offerings returned to you.
Cantique de Jean Racine (Op. 11) is a work for mixed chorus and piano or organ by Gabriel Faure. Written by the nineteen year old composer in 1864-5, the piece won Fauré the first prize when he graduated from the Ecole 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 Trés-Haut", is a paraphrase by Jean Racine (Hymnes traduites du Bréviaire romain, 1688) of the pseudo-ambrosian hymn for Tuesday matins, Consors paterni luminis.
Gabriel Faure
(12 May 1845-4 November 1924)
