Gabriel Urbain Fauré (12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer… Read Full Bio ↴Gabriel Urbain Fauré (12 May 1845 – 4 November 1924) was a French composer, often seen as a transitional figure between the Romantic period and Impressionism. In contrast with his harmonic and melodic style, which pushed the bounds for his time, Fauré’s rhythmic motives tended to be subtle and repetitive, with little to break the flow of the line, although he did utilize subtle large scale syncopations, similar to those found in the works of Johannes Brahms. Aaron Copland referred to him as the ‘French Brahms’.
Fauré’s piano works often use arpeggiated figures with the melody interspersed between the two hands, and include finger substitutions natural for organists. These aspects make them daunting for some pianists, but they are nonetheless central works.
Fauré was born in Pamiers, Ariège, Midi-Pyrénées, France, to Toussaint-Honoré Fauré and Marie-Antoinette-Hélène Lalène-Laprade. Fauré was sent to live with a foster-nurse for four years. At the age of nine he was sent to study at the École Niedermeyer, a school which prepared church organists and choir directors in Paris, and continued there for eleven years. He studied with several prominent French musicians, including Camille Saint-Saëns, who introduced him to the music of several contemporary composers, including Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt.
In 1870, Fauré enlisted in the army and took part in the action to raise the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. During the Paris Commune he stayed at Rambouillet and in Switzerland, where he taught at the transported École Niedermeyer. When he returned to Paris in October of 1871, he was appointed assistant organist at Saint-Sulpice as accompanist to the choir, and became a regular at Saint-Saëns' salon. Here he met many prominent Parisian musicians and with those he met there and at the salon of Pauline Garcia-Viardot he formed the Société Nationale de Musique.
In 1874, Fauré stopped working at Saint-Sulpice and began to fill in at the Église de la Madeleine for Saint-Saëns during his many absences. When Saint-Saëns retired in 1877, Fauré became choirmaster. In the same year he became engaged to Marianne Viardot, daughter of Pauline, but the engagement was later broken off by Marianne. Following this disappointment he travelled to Weimar, where he met Liszt, and Cologne in order to see productions of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. Fauré admired Wagner, but was one of few composers of his generation not to come under his influence.
In 1883, Fauré married Marie Fremiet, with whom he had two sons. In order to support his family Fauré spent most of his time in organising daily services at the Église de la Madeleine and teaching piano and harmony lessons. He only had time to compose during the summers. He earned almost no money from his compositions because his publisher bought them, copyright and all, for 50 francs each. During this period Gabriel Fauré wrote several large scale works, in addition to many piano pieces and songs, but he destroyed many of them after a few performances, only retaining a few movements in order to re-use motives.
During his youth Fauré was very cheerful, but his broken engagement combined with his perceived lack of musical success led to bouts of depression which he described as "spleen". In the 1890s, however, his fortunes reversed somewhat. He had a successful trip to Venice where he met with friends and wrote several works. In 1892, he became the inspector of the music conservatories in the French provinces, which meant he no longer had to teach amateur students. In 1896, he finally became chief organist at the Église de la Madeleine, and also succeeded Jules Massenet as composition instructor at the Conservatoire de Paris. At this post he taught many important French composers, including Maurice Ravel and Nadia Boulanger.
From 1903 to 1921, Fauré was a critic for Le Figaro. In 1905, he succeeded Théodore Dubois as director of the Paris Conservatory. He made many changes at the Conservatoire, leading to the resignation of a number of faculty members. This position meant that he was better off in terms of income, and he also became much more widely known as a composer.
Fauré was elected to the Institut de France in 1909, but at the same time he broke with the old stodgy Société Nationale de Musique, and supported the rogue group which formed out of those ejected from the Société which was mainly comprised of his own students. During this time Fauré developed ear trouble and gradually lost his hearing. Sound not only became fainter, but it was also distorted, so that pitches on the low and high ends of his hearing sounded like other pitches. He made efforts to conceal his difficulty, but was eventually forced to abandon his teaching position.
His responsibilities at the Conservatoire, combined with his hearing loss, meant that Fauré's output was greatly reduced during this period. During World War I Fauré remained in France. In 1920, at the age of 75, he retired from the Conservatoire mainly due to his increasing deafness. In this year he also received the Grand-Croix of the Légion d'Honneur, an honor rare for a musician. He suffered from poor health, partially brought on by heavy smoking. Despite this, he remained available to young composers, including members of Les Six, who were devoted to him.
Gabriel Fauré died in Paris from pneumonia in 1924. He was given a state funeral at the Église de la Madeleine and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy in Paris.
Music
Overview
Gabriel Fauré is regarded as the master of the French art song, or mélodie. His works ranged from Classical, when in his early years he emulated the style of Haydn and Mendelssohn, to Romantic, and finally to an ascetic 20th century aesthetic. His work was based on a strong understanding of harmonic structures which he received at the École Niedermeyer from his harmony teacher Gustave Lefèvre, who wrote the book Traité d'harmonie (Paris, 1889). In this book he sets forth a harmonic theory which differs significantly from the classical theory of Jean-Philippe Rameau in that seventh and ninth chords are no longer considered dissonant, and the mediant can be altered without changing the mode. In addition, Fauré's understanding of the church modes can be seen in various modal passages in his works, especially in his melodies.
Notable works
Fauré was a prolific composer, and among the most noteworthy of his works are his Requiem, the opera Penelope, the orchestral suite Masques et Bergamasques (based on music for a dramatic entertainment, or divertissement comique), and music for Pelléas et Mélisande. He also wrote chamber music; his two piano quartets are particularly well known. Other chamber music includes two piano quintets, two cello sonatas, two violin sonatas, and a number of piano pieces including the Nocturnes. He is also known for his songs, such as Après un rêve, Les roses d'Ispahan, En prière, and several song cycles, including La Bonne Chanson with settings of poems by Verlaine, and L'horizon chimérique.
The Requiem, Op. 48, was not composed to the memory of a specific person but, in Fauré's words, "for the pleasure of it". It was first performed in 1888. Fauré is thought not to have had strong religious beliefs. It has been described as "a lullaby of death". In setting his requiem, he left out the Dies irae, though the reference to the day of judgment appears in the Libera me, which he added to the normal requiem mass. Several slightly different versions of the Requiem exist, and these have given rise to a number of different recordings. Personal grief may have influenced the composition as it was started after the death of his father, and before it was completed, his mother died as well. The Requiem can thus be seen as an expression of Fauré's personal tragedy written after the death of his parents. The Requiem is also acknowledged as a source of inspiration for the similar setting by Maurice Duruflé.
His music is used in "Act I: Emeralds" of George Balanchine's ballet Jewels (1967).
Fauré’s piano works often use arpeggiated figures with the melody interspersed between the two hands, and include finger substitutions natural for organists. These aspects make them daunting for some pianists, but they are nonetheless central works.
Fauré was born in Pamiers, Ariège, Midi-Pyrénées, France, to Toussaint-Honoré Fauré and Marie-Antoinette-Hélène Lalène-Laprade. Fauré was sent to live with a foster-nurse for four years. At the age of nine he was sent to study at the École Niedermeyer, a school which prepared church organists and choir directors in Paris, and continued there for eleven years. He studied with several prominent French musicians, including Camille Saint-Saëns, who introduced him to the music of several contemporary composers, including Robert Schumann and Franz Liszt.
In 1870, Fauré enlisted in the army and took part in the action to raise the Siege of Paris during the Franco-Prussian War. During the Paris Commune he stayed at Rambouillet and in Switzerland, where he taught at the transported École Niedermeyer. When he returned to Paris in October of 1871, he was appointed assistant organist at Saint-Sulpice as accompanist to the choir, and became a regular at Saint-Saëns' salon. Here he met many prominent Parisian musicians and with those he met there and at the salon of Pauline Garcia-Viardot he formed the Société Nationale de Musique.
In 1874, Fauré stopped working at Saint-Sulpice and began to fill in at the Église de la Madeleine for Saint-Saëns during his many absences. When Saint-Saëns retired in 1877, Fauré became choirmaster. In the same year he became engaged to Marianne Viardot, daughter of Pauline, but the engagement was later broken off by Marianne. Following this disappointment he travelled to Weimar, where he met Liszt, and Cologne in order to see productions of Richard Wagner's Der Ring des Nibelungen. Fauré admired Wagner, but was one of few composers of his generation not to come under his influence.
In 1883, Fauré married Marie Fremiet, with whom he had two sons. In order to support his family Fauré spent most of his time in organising daily services at the Église de la Madeleine and teaching piano and harmony lessons. He only had time to compose during the summers. He earned almost no money from his compositions because his publisher bought them, copyright and all, for 50 francs each. During this period Gabriel Fauré wrote several large scale works, in addition to many piano pieces and songs, but he destroyed many of them after a few performances, only retaining a few movements in order to re-use motives.
During his youth Fauré was very cheerful, but his broken engagement combined with his perceived lack of musical success led to bouts of depression which he described as "spleen". In the 1890s, however, his fortunes reversed somewhat. He had a successful trip to Venice where he met with friends and wrote several works. In 1892, he became the inspector of the music conservatories in the French provinces, which meant he no longer had to teach amateur students. In 1896, he finally became chief organist at the Église de la Madeleine, and also succeeded Jules Massenet as composition instructor at the Conservatoire de Paris. At this post he taught many important French composers, including Maurice Ravel and Nadia Boulanger.
From 1903 to 1921, Fauré was a critic for Le Figaro. In 1905, he succeeded Théodore Dubois as director of the Paris Conservatory. He made many changes at the Conservatoire, leading to the resignation of a number of faculty members. This position meant that he was better off in terms of income, and he also became much more widely known as a composer.
Fauré was elected to the Institut de France in 1909, but at the same time he broke with the old stodgy Société Nationale de Musique, and supported the rogue group which formed out of those ejected from the Société which was mainly comprised of his own students. During this time Fauré developed ear trouble and gradually lost his hearing. Sound not only became fainter, but it was also distorted, so that pitches on the low and high ends of his hearing sounded like other pitches. He made efforts to conceal his difficulty, but was eventually forced to abandon his teaching position.
His responsibilities at the Conservatoire, combined with his hearing loss, meant that Fauré's output was greatly reduced during this period. During World War I Fauré remained in France. In 1920, at the age of 75, he retired from the Conservatoire mainly due to his increasing deafness. In this year he also received the Grand-Croix of the Légion d'Honneur, an honor rare for a musician. He suffered from poor health, partially brought on by heavy smoking. Despite this, he remained available to young composers, including members of Les Six, who were devoted to him.
Gabriel Fauré died in Paris from pneumonia in 1924. He was given a state funeral at the Église de la Madeleine and is buried in the Cimetière de Passy in Paris.
Music
Overview
Gabriel Fauré is regarded as the master of the French art song, or mélodie. His works ranged from Classical, when in his early years he emulated the style of Haydn and Mendelssohn, to Romantic, and finally to an ascetic 20th century aesthetic. His work was based on a strong understanding of harmonic structures which he received at the École Niedermeyer from his harmony teacher Gustave Lefèvre, who wrote the book Traité d'harmonie (Paris, 1889). In this book he sets forth a harmonic theory which differs significantly from the classical theory of Jean-Philippe Rameau in that seventh and ninth chords are no longer considered dissonant, and the mediant can be altered without changing the mode. In addition, Fauré's understanding of the church modes can be seen in various modal passages in his works, especially in his melodies.
Notable works
Fauré was a prolific composer, and among the most noteworthy of his works are his Requiem, the opera Penelope, the orchestral suite Masques et Bergamasques (based on music for a dramatic entertainment, or divertissement comique), and music for Pelléas et Mélisande. He also wrote chamber music; his two piano quartets are particularly well known. Other chamber music includes two piano quintets, two cello sonatas, two violin sonatas, and a number of piano pieces including the Nocturnes. He is also known for his songs, such as Après un rêve, Les roses d'Ispahan, En prière, and several song cycles, including La Bonne Chanson with settings of poems by Verlaine, and L'horizon chimérique.
The Requiem, Op. 48, was not composed to the memory of a specific person but, in Fauré's words, "for the pleasure of it". It was first performed in 1888. Fauré is thought not to have had strong religious beliefs. It has been described as "a lullaby of death". In setting his requiem, he left out the Dies irae, though the reference to the day of judgment appears in the Libera me, which he added to the normal requiem mass. Several slightly different versions of the Requiem exist, and these have given rise to a number of different recordings. Personal grief may have influenced the composition as it was started after the death of his father, and before it was completed, his mother died as well. The Requiem can thus be seen as an expression of Fauré's personal tragedy written after the death of his parents. The Requiem is also acknowledged as a source of inspiration for the similar setting by Maurice Duruflé.
His music is used in "Act I: Emeralds" of George Balanchine's ballet Jewels (1967).
Nocturne In B Major Op.40
Gabriel Fauré Lyrics
We have lyrics for these tracks by Gabriel Fauré:
Agnus Dei Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis, dona eis req…
Apres un Reve Dans un sommeil que charmait ton image Je rêvais le bonheur,…
Automne, op. 18 no. 3 Automne au ciel brumeux, aux horizons navrants. Aux rapides …
Cantique Verbe égal au Très-Haut Notre unique espérance Jour éternel …
Cantique De Jean Racine Verbe égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance, Jour éterne…
Cantique de Jean Racine Op. 11 Verbe égal au Très-Haut Notre unique espérance Jour éternel …
Cantique de Jean Racine, op. 11 Verbe égal au Très-Haut, notre unique espérance, Jour éterne…
Clair de lune Votre âme est un paysage choisi Que vont charmant masques et…
Clair de lune, Op. 46 No. 2 Votre âme est un paysage choisi Que vont charmants masques e…
Introit et Kyrie Requiem æternum dona eis, Domine, Et lux perpetua luceat, lu…
L'horizon chimérique, Op. 118 No. 1: La mer est infinie La mer est infinie et mes rêves sont fous. La mer…
Le Papillon et la fleur Op. 1 No. 1 La pauvre fleur disait au papillon céleste: Ne fuis pas!...…
Les berceaux Op.23 No.1 Le long du quai les grands vaisseaux Que la houle incline…
Libera me Libera me, Domine, de morte æterna, in die illa tremenda, i…
Mai, Op. 1 No. 2 Puisque mai tout en fleur Dans les prés nous réclame, Viens …
Offertoire O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, Libera animas defuncto…
Pavane C'est Lindor, c'est Tircis et c'est tous nos vainqueurs! C'…
Pavane Op. 50 C′est Lindor, c'est Tircis Et c′est tous nos vainqueurs! C'e…
Pavanne C'est Lindor, c'est Tircis et c'est tous nos vainqueurs! C'e…
Pie Jesu Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem, dona eis requiem. Pie…
Requiem Quand j'aurai proféré ma dernière insanité Quand j'aurai do…
Requiem (1893 version, ed. John Rutter): I. Introit et Kyrie itus Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luc…
Requiem, Op. 48: Pie Jesu Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu Pie Jesu, Pie Jesu Qui tolis peccata mund…
Requiem, Op. 48: Sanctus Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt …
Sanctus Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus Dominus, Sanc…
The lyrics are frequently found in the comments by searching or by filtering for lyric videos
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Classical Music/ /Reference Recording
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Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) - Complete Nocturnes & Variations Op.73
🎧 Find this recording in our Spotify playlist : https://spoti.fi/2RSW6h7
Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation (00:00-01:33)
Nocturnes
No.1 en mi bémol mineur Op.33 No.1 (00:00)
No.2 en si majeur Op.33 No.2 (08:09)
No.3 en la bémol majeur Op.33 No.3 (13:33)
No.4 en mi bémol majeur Op.36 (18:39)
No.5 en si bémol majeur Op.37 (24:56)
No.6 en ré bémol majeur Op.63 (32:05)
No.7 en do dièse mineur Op.74 (40:53)
No.8 en ré bémol majeur / Pièces brèves (49:07)
No.9 en si mineur Op.97 (50:55)
No.10 en mi mineur Op.99 (55:14)
No.11 en fa dièse mineur Op.104 No.1 (59:16)
No.12 en mi mineur Op.107 (1:03:33)
No.13 en si mineur Op.119 (1:08:02)
Thème et variations en Do dièse mineur Op.73
Thème (1:15:47)
Variation I (1:18:03)
Variation II (1:19:15)
Variation III (1:20:04)
Variation IV (2:20:43)
Variation V (1:21:29)
Variation VI (1:22:21)
Variation VII (1:24:22)
Variation VIII (1:25:17)
Variation IX (1:26:25)
Variation X (1:27:59)
Variation XI (1:29:05)
Piano : Éric Heidsieck
Recorded in 1960-62, at Paris
🔊Find CMRR's recordings on Spotify : https://spoti.fi/3016eVr
🔊Download CMRR's recordings in High fidelity audio : https://bit.ly/2M1Eop2
The 13 Nocturnes constitute the first major cycle of Fauré's work. They cover most of his output, from 1882 to 1921. They are only occasionally related to the characteristic form of Field's or Chopin's Nocturnes (ornate singing over an accompaniment of arpeggios), but they are imbued with the same quiet, sorrowful evening poetry. Éric Heidsieck, very young at the time of this recording, imposed himself by a kind of instinct in these magnificent poems that are the nocturnes of Fauré. The French school has spoiled us with a number of first-rate performers, but it is without doubt Eric Heidsieck who best conveys the dreamy and poetic aspect of these nocturnes. It is a very personal interpretation and it works wonderfully.
Handel - 16 Keyboard Suites (recording of the Century: Éric Heidsieck): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6chFJaBAa8&list=OLAK5uy_kcnc7tWosIhRMVY43TE0uwH7Vak6QnnPY&index=1
Ravel - Ma Mère L’Oye, Gaspard de la Nuit, Valses nobles.. (Century’s rec.: Tania & Eric Heidsieck) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aO-inK-jtY&list=PL3UZpQL9LIxMn2Jpn2cTfi8HDvB5XMeQ5&index=3
Gabriel Fauré PLAYLIST (reference recordings) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flboe048gn4&list=PL3UZpQL9LIxPwwX_kYZ0ZyhcBsDttdtGC&index=1&t=124s
Classical Music/ /Reference Recording
❤️ If you like CM//RR content, please consider membership at our Patreon page.
Thank you :) https://www.patreon.com/cmrr
Gabriel Fauré (1845-1924) - Complete Nocturnes & Variations Op.73
🎧 Find this recording in our Spotify playlist : https://spoti.fi/2RSW6h7
Click to activate the English subtitles for the presentation (00:00-01:33)
Nocturnes
No.1 en mi bémol mineur Op.33 No.1 (00:00)
No.2 en si majeur Op.33 No.2 (08:09)
No.3 en la bémol majeur Op.33 No.3 (13:33)
No.4 en mi bémol majeur Op.36 (18:39)
No.5 en si bémol majeur Op.37 (24:56)
No.6 en ré bémol majeur Op.63 (32:05)
No.7 en do dièse mineur Op.74 (40:53)
No.8 en ré bémol majeur / Pièces brèves (49:07)
No.9 en si mineur Op.97 (50:55)
No.10 en mi mineur Op.99 (55:14)
No.11 en fa dièse mineur Op.104 No.1 (59:16)
No.12 en mi mineur Op.107 (1:03:33)
No.13 en si mineur Op.119 (1:08:02)
Thème et variations en Do dièse mineur Op.73
Thème (1:15:47)
Variation I (1:18:03)
Variation II (1:19:15)
Variation III (1:20:04)
Variation IV (2:20:43)
Variation V (1:21:29)
Variation VI (1:22:21)
Variation VII (1:24:22)
Variation VIII (1:25:17)
Variation IX (1:26:25)
Variation X (1:27:59)
Variation XI (1:29:05)
Piano : Éric Heidsieck
Recorded in 1960-62, at Paris
🔊Find CMRR's recordings on Spotify : https://spoti.fi/3016eVr
🔊Download CMRR's recordings in High fidelity audio : https://bit.ly/2M1Eop2
The 13 Nocturnes constitute the first major cycle of Fauré's work. They cover most of his output, from 1882 to 1921. They are only occasionally related to the characteristic form of Field's or Chopin's Nocturnes (ornate singing over an accompaniment of arpeggios), but they are imbued with the same quiet, sorrowful evening poetry. Éric Heidsieck, very young at the time of this recording, imposed himself by a kind of instinct in these magnificent poems that are the nocturnes of Fauré. The French school has spoiled us with a number of first-rate performers, but it is without doubt Eric Heidsieck who best conveys the dreamy and poetic aspect of these nocturnes. It is a very personal interpretation and it works wonderfully.
Handel - 16 Keyboard Suites (recording of the Century: Éric Heidsieck): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C6chFJaBAa8&list=OLAK5uy_kcnc7tWosIhRMVY43TE0uwH7Vak6QnnPY&index=1
Ravel - Ma Mère L’Oye, Gaspard de la Nuit, Valses nobles.. (Century’s rec.: Tania & Eric Heidsieck) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0aO-inK-jtY&list=PL3UZpQL9LIxMn2Jpn2cTfi8HDvB5XMeQ5&index=3
Gabriel Fauré PLAYLIST (reference recordings) : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=flboe048gn4&list=PL3UZpQL9LIxPwwX_kYZ0ZyhcBsDttdtGC&index=1&t=124s
Philippe Cirse
Quand le monde fléchit autour de soi, quand les structures d’une civilisation vacillent, il est bon de revenir à ce qui, dans l’histoire, ne fléchit pas, mais au contraire redresse le courage, rassemble les séparés, pacifie sans meurtrir. Il est bon de rappeler que le génie de la création est lui aussi à l’œuvre dans une histoire vouée à la destruction 🐾😺
JM
JE VOUS VOIS PARTOUT ET J'ADORE VOUS LIRE, VOUS ET VOS MOTS
Dynamic Meditation
J’adore
-alain-ferdinand Brun
Merci pour ce message si opportun .
Leonard Enriquez
Je dirais que le commentaire de M. Cirse n'est pas du tout dramatique...c'est très, très bien exprimé...
Philippe Cirse
@Ruth Capriles Oh yes...... Why not ?.. :-)
Ewald Steyn
"It is without doubt Eric Heidsieck who best conveys the dreamy and poetic aspect of these nocturnes." It is fascinating to compare the brilliant recordings Heidsieck, Jean Doyen and Thyssens-Valentin made of the Faure Nocturnes - 3 GREAT Faure masters at work. And it light of what I heard from comparing the 3 that I personally differ slightly from your comment quoted above. I would rather say that Thyssens-Valentin best brings out the dreamy aspect of the nocturnes (although not lacking at all in poetry), while Heidseck best brings out the poetic aspect (although not lacking in the dreamy aspect as well). As for Doyen- he best brings out the inner turmoil and fire of the pieces. Just wonderful to here these 3 great masters each giving us something slightly different yet magnificent in these masterpieces. Would not like to be without any of them in my collection. Thanks for making all three available for us of to investigate and compare through Reference Recording.
Nameless !
@Eric Sabourin dispo sur YouTube ?
Eric Sabourin
La version de référence est désormais celle de David Jalbert, pianiste québécois, longtemps détenue pR celle que donna, jadis, le jeune Jean-Philippe Collard à l'égal de Heidsieck. Difficile d'enlaidir les nocturnes de Fauré, tous les noms cités ici, plus haut, sont d'excellents interprètes. J'ai apprécié celle de Thyssens-Valentin mais la qualité des enregistrements d'aujourd'hui permet plus de discernement avec de jeunes talents comme David Jalbert. Hélas, Éric Lesage, si excellent dans Schumann, ne réussit pas du tout sa version des Nocturnes de Fauré! C'est comme ça!