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Musique vocale religieuse by Gabriel Fauré

2022; Music Library Association; Volume: 78; Issue: 4 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1353/not.2022.0061

1534-150X

James William Sobaskie,

Literature, Musicology, and Cultural Analysis

Reviewed by: Musique vocale religieuse by Gabriel Fauré James William Sobaskie Gabriel Fauré. Musique vocale religieuse. Edited by Helga Schauerte-Maubouet. Kassel: Bärenreiter, 2020. (Œuvres complètes de Gabriel Fauré, Sér. I, Vol. 4) [Front matter in Fr., Eng., and Ger.: preface, p. vii–x; introduction, p. xi–xxxi; sung texts, p. xxxii–xxxiv; plate, p. xxxv; facsimiles, p. xxxvi–xxxix, music, p. 1–112; crit. rep. in Fr. and Ger., p. 113–37. Cloth. BA 9478-01. ISMN: 979-0-006-54469-1. €229 ($270).]. The critical edition of the complete works by Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924), which has been produced under the direction of Jean-Michel Nectoux, published by Bärenreiter-Verlag, and prepared by Fauréans from around the world, continues with determined urgency. Responding to the global growth of interest in the composer's music over the past half century, Œuvres complètes de Gabriel Fauré will consist of twenty-nine volumes set in seven series. When finished, the monument will portray a legacy of remarkable imagination, continuous innovation, and engaging expression, while furthering the dissemination and promoting the performance of this most innovative and engaging aural art. In 2010, my critical edition of Fauré's last two compositions [End Page 595] inaugurated the international effort (Série V, Volume 3: Trio pour piano, violon et violoncelle, op. 120; Quatour à cordes, op. 121). So it is gratifying to see that the commitment to faithful presentation of the composer's intentions via systematic criticism remains vital and vibrant within this new volume of the composer's smaller sacred works. And it is rewarding to peruse that choice choral repertoire, whose depth, diversity, distinctiveness, and size will surprise many musicians and music-lovers. Fauré's compositions now bear N numbers established by Jean-Michel Nectoux in Gabriel Fauré: Catalogue des œuvres (Kassel: Bârenreiter-Verlag, 2018). For instance, Fauré's Requiem, op. 48—published separately in Œuvres complètes de Gabriel Fauré volumes 1/1 and 1/2—is represented by the number N 97a, which corresponds to the original church version that was developed between 1887 and 1899, as well as N 97b, which corresponds to the concert version with symphonic orchestration that was published in 1900. These N numbers are valuable referents, for they establish precise compositional relationships as well as define dependable chronological connections among works which may have waited a while for publication. In addition, they enable Gabriel Fauré: Catalogue des œuvres to present a wealth of information essential to the serious study of this exquisite late-nineteenth- and early-twentieth-century musical patrimony. A small quibble needs mentioning here, however. Certain instances of N numbers within this choral volume which conclude with the letters "a" or "b" sometimes separate those characters from the preceding numeral with a space. For instance, on the title page of the present collection, specifically page v, we see "Tu es Petrus (N 28a)," just as it appears on p. 33 of Gabriel Fauré: Catalogue des œuvres. Yet a little lower on that title page of the choral volume we see "O salutaris, op. 47 no. 1 (N 95 a)" with an inserted space after the "N" and the numeral 95, whose N number reads as "N 95a" on page 154 of the Catalogue. A very minor issue, to be sure, yet one that Bärenreiter proofreaders should attend to as forthcoming Œuvres complètes de Gabriel Fauré volumes incorporate the very recently established N numbers. The sacred music presented here, which includes choral compositions, works for soloists and four- or five-part mixed choir, plus settings for solo voices or unison choral groups, all accompanied by keyboard, appear in this order: Cantique de Jean Racine, op. 11 (N 42a, 1865); Ave Maria (N 26, 1871); Tu es Petrus (N 28a, 1872); Benedictus (N 61, ca. 1880); Noël, op. 43, no. 1 (N 89, 1885); O salutaris, op. 47, no. 1 (N 95a, 1887); Maria Mater gratiae, op. 47, no. 2 (N 96, 1888); Ecce fidelis servus, op. 54 (N 108a, 1889); Tantum ergo, op. 55 (N 110a, ca. 1890); Ave verum, op. 65, no. 1 (N 123, 1894); Tantum ergo, op. 65, no. 2 (N...