Tantum ergo are the opening words of the last two
verses of Pange Lingua, a Mediaeval Latin hymn written
by St Thomas Aquinas. These last two verses are sung
during veneration and Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church and other
churches that practice this devotion. It is usually
sung, though solemn recitation is sometimes done, and
permitted.
Gabriel Fauré once defended his Requiem (1887 - 99),
often accused of being more like a sentimental lullaby
than a m...(+)
Tantum ergo are the opening words of the last two
verses of Pange Lingua, a Mediaeval Latin hymn written
by St Thomas Aquinas. These last two verses are sung
during veneration and Benediction of the Blessed
Sacrament in the Roman Catholic Church and other
churches that practice this devotion. It is usually
sung, though solemn recitation is sometimes done, and
permitted.
Gabriel Fauré once defended his Requiem (1887 - 99),
often accused of being more like a sentimental lullaby
than a mass for the dead, by saying that the music any
composer writes for religious purposes reflects that
composer's own emotions and spirituality. Accordingly,
Fauré's own Requiem may be said to express the
composer's belief that death was a deliverance of the
soul to everlasting bliss. Fauré's ca. 1891 setting of
Tantum ergo, Op. 55, shows something of the same
sensibility via lush harmonies, persistent harp
arpeggios, and quiet, largely scalar vocal lines for
both the soloist and choir. It is one of the composer's
simplest works; the vocal parts are highly repetitive
and unfold within a generally narrow range of pitch and
dynamics, while the instrumental parts are similarly
uncomplicated. Throughout most of the piece, the
soloist and chorus alternate statements of the main
theme; overall, the atmosphere is one of quiet
tranquillity.
Although originally written for Solo Reed, Chorus
(SATBB) Keyboard & Organ, I created this arrangement
for Harp & Woodwind Sextet (Flute, Oboe, Clarinet,
English Horn, French Horn & Bassoon).
