Cantique de Jean Racine - Faure

[musikmares]

Stupendo!!!!!

[musicamaxima]

I think the tempo is perfect. Rutter is the the Solti of choral music; his tempi always suit the music and his ensemble perfectly.

[Nonie46]

@musicamaxima I agree. We should always remember that the lyrics of the song is a supplication, which is like a prayer. Every word in the lyrics should be evenly given emphasis.

[raffymiro23]

so slow tempo xD

[ripplyduck]

I've just visited heaven.

[lunndrew]

sonewhere between the two. I feel that this tempo is a little to slow and would benefit from just a slight increase. Of course depending on the acoustic of where it is sung, in a cavernous echoey cathedral then this tempo would sound glorious!

[justie1220]

@scienceisknolwedge

I would disagree with the sentiment that it is slow. I feel that a song such as this should not be rushed through, but rather should be taken at a tempo that allows the listener to enjoy the richness of the chords and text. Of course, thats just my opinion.

[ReallyrRandomVideos]

I'm a boy, and i'm doing this SA. How awesome is that?!

[MrPianoJames]

Stunning.

[emncaity]

I like almost everything the Cambridge Singers do, but this seems just a touch draggy to me (tempo-wise, I mean). Anybody else? Maybe it's just because when I've been in a choir that's done it before, it's moved just a touch faster. It even seems to me that the tempo slows almost imperceptibly from the latter half of the intro to after the vocal parts enter. Other than that minor complaint--I do think it loses just a touch of the phrasing and flow--it's beautiful as usual.

[gr8u2bing]

@emncaity I don't have the music training to recognize these details. I just enjoy sitting back and listening to this incredibly beautiful music. I am guilty of chord worship and have played this repeatedly!

[MrSandu96]

@emncaity I agree, I'm in a choir and we sing it a bit faster.

[scienceisknolwedge]

@MrSandu96 me two, I will post our version later. Is way faster

[musicissuperior]

This song is beautiful!!!

[Choristenimes]

Très bien ! Pouce vert ! Ecoutez: "Cantique de Jean Racine Maîtrise de Nîmes"

[zebrain38]

Simply the best version I heard... Ab Fab!!

[gr8u2bing]

This Is absolutely great! The translated lyrics are wonderful! Unless it's something offensive why intentionally dislike it? Just go to another video how 'bout it?

[DiegoContu]

Une pièce magnifique chantée à merveille, que demander de plus?

[toastednoodles]

such a beautiful piece... I am singing it right now in choir!

[g00dth3m3]

Thank you for posting. I searched for this for years. I lost the CASSETTE recording and sheet music for this a few years back.--first soprano AllShoreChorus1990-94

[Marakinyo]

I once sang the bass part of this as a solo performance...I had to sing from memory and, forgetting the words, came up with impressive-sounding Fratin (French+Latin) to cover up...no-one noticed a thing, result.

[PoopFaceStukEm]

too bad its so quite i can barely hear it

[mysteriousguy25]

@PoopFaceStukEm That's because much of the song is in piano and pianissimo, with crescendos scattered here and there, except for the middle section which is mostly forte. So basically, you're supposed to sing as if you're whispering a prayer. :P

[Buckeystown]

We sang this at my late pastor's funeral. We have lost a few more priests from the ones that celebrated that Mass with the Cardinal.

[lilasbleuful]

This is the best version I have ever heard.

[chibichibi9981]

The guys in my choir are singing this for Region and every time they rehearse it, I just become so mesmerized. I get chills every time. (:

[SGTCloudrunner]

I absolutely love singing this in my choir class.

[iHondeux]

C'est le trop belle chanson qui est cree par le choeur que j'ai ecoute jamais!!

Il y a un ane depuis je l'ai ecoute, et toujours est marveilleuse...

[helloween854]

aaaa esta me encanta la iremos a cantar al festival cervantino este año y ya la estamos practicando XD

[bevking86]

(Part 2) Inspire us Lord, we pray with the power of your spirit

[bevking86]

Inspire us Lord, we pray with the power of your spirit

That Hell may flee, that Hell may flee before thy mighty word

From slumber waken us our weary souls reviving

That we may never forget thy laws

That we may never forget thy laws

(will post the rest of the words when I remember them)

[bevking86]

I am currently singing this with a chior that I am in and we are singing it in English and the translation we have is:

(Bass Start) Oh divine word above, (Tenors join) our hope and consolation

Eternal light

(Tenor & Bass) Of the Heavens and the Earth (Alto at the same time) The peaceful night is past

(Soprano now joins in) Our voices greet the morning

Look down oh Lord and hear thy peoples prayer

Look down oh Lord and hear thy peoples prayer

[Forever80s]

My high school choir sang this (in English, though). I think it was the most beuatiful song we ever did. It still brings tears to my eyes. And how is it possible that there are three dislikes?!

[BiggerBango]

Can't wait to sing this at state

[TheMinersSon]

@BiggerBango Are you from texas sir? texas is singing this too

[BiggerBango]

@TheMinersSon Why, as a matter of fact I am! Oh, and please don't call me sir. I don't qualify.

[TheMinersSon]

@BiggerBango what district?

[BiggerBango]

@TheMinersSon i think we're 26, but I could be wrong

[TheMinersSon]

@BiggerBango did you go to TCU? allstate camp???

[BiggerBango]

@TheMinersSon uh, no. i'm further south.

[jthameschoir08]

@BiggerBango You know its TTBB right? I was all disappointed when I saw that. I think that mixed is much more beautiful.

[BiggerBango]

@jthameschoir08 yeah, we're singing TTBB, I'm a bass.

[jthameschoir08]

@BiggerBango No way me too!! : )

[cosmicviewer477]

Beautiful! Also, thank you so much for the lyrics and manuscript. The Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Miami Adult Choir performed this song a few months ago. What I find so beautiful about it the melody is the sense of melancholic pleading to the Savior, and the Cambridge Singers captured that spirit so well. Once again, thank you.

[christophbell2]

I love this song soo much, but I prefer it with a piano. Great performance nonetheless

[lucyyymaariieee]

so beautiful!

[2911de]

This is special. I come back to this again and again, so calming. Check out the Holland Boy's Choir version too.......just lovely, though the organist looks a type!

[eztobeme]

O Christ bestow Thy blessing on us, we implore Thee,

Who here are gathered on penitent knee.

Accept the hymns we chant to Thine everlasting glory and

these Thy gifts we return unto Thee.

[eztobeme]

English translation from the version I sang (Broude Brothers):

O Redeemer divine, our sole hope of salvation,

Eternal Light of the earth and sky, we kneel in adoration,

O Savior, turn on us Thy loving eye!

Send down on us the fire of Thy grace all consuming,

Whose wondrous might dispersed the powr's of hell,

And rouse our slumb'ring souls with Thy radiance,

That they may waken Thy mercy to tell!

[TheDoughnutStealer81]

I sung this!! As a treble with Trinity Choristers! It was so fun, especially 3:22 to 3:32. Love the G.

[joycekmaciel]

Linda essa canção... me apaixonei assim que a ouvi pela primeira vez...

E eu terei a honra de interpretá-la juntamente com o Coral Usina Intendente Câmara de Ipatinga / MG dia 16/06/2011 no Teatro Centro Cultural Usiminas no Shopping do Vale do Aço.

Esperamos fazer uma apresentaçao a altura de tão perfeita letra e melodia

[WillShakespeare2007]

This is playing at a concert I was going to take my wife to on Saturday - I think we will go for a meal instead, this makes me want to jump of a bridge!

[NoeleR02]

Exceptional Music!!

[Whatsmynameagain03]

What a beautiful piece.

[popertop]

Our choir is performing this at the end of the week. A wonderful interpretation here.

[Choristenimes]

Look at "Maîtrise de Nîmes, Cantique de Jean Racine"

[chosscody]

Sick beats yo.

[Froggybomb]

I actually sang this for our church once in a octect, the copies of music we had, had the english translation underneath it, it was nice... since I don't speak french lol

[fforganista]

perfeito!!  contricao perfeita!!!!

[VocMusTcrMaloy]

Excellent interpretation!

[eztobeme]

Sublime. Makes me cry remembering when we did this ages ago. What a special privilege to sing this piece.

[awyliu]

Great performance but the tempo is a bit slow imho.

[emncaity]

@awyliu

Yeah, just a bit--and I usually think these pieces tend to be done too fast by most modern choirs. Sounds too often like they're gonna get some prize for finishing first, like the point is to get to the end. But here, it's so slow it actually affects the line and plods a bit.

[cosmicviewer477]

@emncaity Indeed. After hearing this version, I'm inclined to believe that the pace at which our congregational choir sang it was a bit too hasty. :)

[971cecil]

c'est très joli ! merçi du partage

[RebeccaTRoberts]

This is so helpful!

[wimwilts]

Fraai, maar trraag.

[marcutial]

i feel its too slow, it drags, there is such a thin line with faure between keeping tempo and dragging i dont think has quite got it. Its a shame because its brilliant playing and singing.

[EllieSeilern]

@marcutial I agree with you totally!

[misty04]

Beautiful This is the voice of Christ himself

[hellokittymeows4u]

i'm singing this in my middle school choir in April!!!!(: its so pretty sounding

[bigbaddbrad]

I love this Faure piece! My high school choir (Trinity High, Euless, Tx) performed this for contest my sophomore year in '77 under the direction of Philip Ware. Listening to the French as sung by the Cambridge Singers we actually did pretty well with the enunciation being from Texas and being high schoolers! :) Such an emotional piece, beautifully, and wonderfully performed here! Thanks for sharing!

[MsZephyra]

LOVE LOVE LOVE IT!!! You don't have to be religious or even Christian to get goose bumps by this gorgeous music. I have such fond memories of singing it in choir...

[Ledfloyd15]

Who could dare to dislike this?!

[Yrrats]

@Ledfloyd15 Someone who doesn't like this kind of music no doubt. But why come and listen to it than...? Anyway: in my ears this sounds brilliant!

[negedes1]

Bring back the good times I sang this! :/

[dogs4life2121]

I am sooo excited to sing this in choir! I am only 13 and we are singing this beautiful song, boy am I lucky!!!!!!

[paolenna]

sehr gut :)

[chongfanyeung]

i love this! I wish i can understand the meaning of it :(

[morphthing1]

@chongfanyeung the orignal text is in Latin, this was then paraphrased by Jean Racine which is where to words in the music come from.

The translation (or one of them) is:

Word, equal to the Almighty, our only hope,

Eternal light of the earth and the Heavens;

We break the peaceful night's silence,

Divine Saviour, cast your eyes upon us!

Spread the fire of your mighty grace upon us

May the entire hell flee at the sound of your voice;

[morphthing1]

@morphthing1

Disperse from any slothful soul the drowsiness

Which induces it to forget your laws!

Oh Christ, look with favour upon this faithful people

Which has now gathered to bless you.

Receive its singing, offered to your immortal glory,

And may it leave with the gifts you have bestowed upon it!

[emncaity]

@chongfanyeung

I'll see if I can remember the English translation from when I did it back in the Dark Ages (definitely not word-for-word--it tries to get the meaning from the French while still giving good syllables for singing):

O Redeemer Divine, our sole hope of salvation,

Eternal light of the Earth and the sky, we kneel in adoration.

O Savior, turn on us thy loving eye.

Send down on us the fire of thy grace all-consuming,

whose wondrous might disperse the powers of hell... [more]

[emncaity]

@chongfanyeung

...and rouse our slumb'ring souls with thy radiance,

that they may waken thy mercy to tell.

O Christ, restore thy blessing unto us, we implore thee,

who here are gathered on penitent knee,

to thy glory; and these, thy gifts, we return unto thee.

--------------------------

(It's one of the rare translations out of an original language I've ever actually liked--the beauty of the words and emotion still gets to me.)

[dreadbond]

@chongfanyeung moi j'compreeeennd :))

[magpie4321]

We sing it in English, and the translation can never beat l'authentique

[LuvCatz905]

THIS IS AMAZING!!!!!!! My choir used to sing this song, we all love it!!!!!!!!!

[rv8dvd]

Magnifique! Que dire de plus! Musique très pieuse et très apaisante!

[dbrailovsky]

muy bueno!

[magpie4321]

Like entering heaven!!!!

[magpie4321]

Bien sûr dès que je peux obtenir une copie. Pardon, je pense en anglais mais je traduire en francais.

[brassection]

WOW,, hyper juste,,, mais beaucoup trop lent je trouve.

[magpie4321]

Our choir is learning this in English. Quelle dommage!

[maximegagne1]

@magpie4321 How can you sing classical music in a different language than the original? It's like singing Schubert in French or Purcell in German. It makes no sense.

Well, good luck!

[maximegagne1]

@magpie4321 Bah! J'admet qu'apprendre la prononciation peut être ardue. J'aimerais bien voir le texte traduit en anglais cependant.

[Tuck213]

@magpie4321 But does your choir want to know what the text means, and is that why they sing it in English? Because I find it a waste to translate music texts instead of singing the original. One could better sing a text without knowing what it means than singing a translation, if you ask me.

[Tuck213]

@magpie4321 I didn't say it was your decision. I'm asking a question. 

[Credo50]

This is perfect!

[krs090465]

By a very long way, the best version of the 'Cantique' John Rutter works his magic again.

[zhr600]

Thanks for posting. I really appreciated following along with the score and seeing the lyrics.

[Antares2602]

PERFECT!

[hermitking100]

C'est musique pargaite.

[Kalmaeuser]

Sublime, et il ne se laisse pas dire beaucoup plus et de bien d'autres façons.

[ccontaifer]

Long time I dont sing this piece. Lovely!

I used to sing last note (Db) one octave lower.

[rjordanashland]

thx so much for posting this!! Its an amazing and deeply heart felt song!! U know,...I didn't even know what this song was about, but every time I heard it I couldn't help but Worship JESUS!!! And then when I looked up the translation a few yrs ago,. it rocked my world!! Its about God, The Father of Jesus Christ and Creator of all that there is!! Amen!!

[literallyme15]

Wow, I sund this song on an eton choral course and it was nice to follow the score again, it's one of my favourites, thanks :)

[feuilletoniste]

Lovely to be able to sing along!

[Licreh]

Oh my gosh! I'm a tenor and I haven't sang this song in 3 or 4 years, but looking at the sheet music now, all the French is coming back to me, and I am even remembering the words that are ahead. This is great!

[frapieracci]

TROPPO LENTA PER I MIEI GUSTI!

[happylady9]

This is one of the most beautiful recordings I have heard. To have the music is so helpful as it allows me to sing at the top of my voice! Beautiful.

[elementfire11]

This song really is amazing

[erebusodora69]

I am often a soprano, but in this one I am alto. And I LOVE IT!... such a beautiful composition:)

[maxicaas]

Evviva Faure! :)))

[MrJamesR82]

Thank you very much for posting this, my all-time favourite piece of Fauré :)

[furbacchione86]

ahhh. music for the soul :)

[EdwardWhelanPiano]

Beautiful. Thank you Faure.

[yourforte]

Beautiful music. And really useful having the sheet music here too.

[kyllerd]

This is really something special, I always fall in love with the beginning, when the tenor joins the bass, Everytime we sing this part, in the chior which i sing in, it gives me the shivers.

[prevezana19]

my choir has sung this song for 3 years now and i am just absolutely in love with it. beautiful song

[64ftContraBombarde]

Wow 3 years? You must be singing quite slowly.

[prevezana19]

haha. 3 years in a row. as in we've kept it in our program for 3 years :P

[dcurtis53]

LOL!!!

[wolfang6]

@64ftContraBombarde there is no way to describe how much win is present in this comment.

[lizzart26]

esta hermoso T_T !!!!!!!!!!!!!!1

[yourforte]

Beautiful work and a beautiful performance.

[HappYuppie]

Wonderful !! it always makes me cry

[msthomassen]

superb - wonderful - music for our soul. five stars and fav!

[irenee31]

juste splendide

[HoelleHoelleHoelle]

We sang this piece in school choir some years ago... shortly before my final exams... my favorite piece... even more beautiful if played on organ...

[65renaissanceman]

@HoelleHoelleHoelle Faure was an organist so that figures! Most choirs take this a little quicker - mine always does. It takes GOOD breath control to take it this slowly. But as a 1st bass I love the way we get a few bars all by ourselves :)

[lorrainewands]

It's...divine

[lordovil]

this first time i heard this piece i wanted to cry. It's so beautiful! It was by this same recording too.

[cornjum007]

It will always stay the most beautiful song by The Cambridge Singers

[Gabster2264]

Me and my choir will be singing this in our next concert. It's truly beautiful!

[Gliazzurri4]

me and the choir will sing this piece tomorrow morning!... so excited!

[treaclecustard]

Lovely to be able to follow the music and sing it again!

[musicyh]

So exquisite.

[arkanjello]

superbe idée de mettre la partition avec les chants !

[giuseppe6410]

grazie! brano magnifico