* Cantique de Jean Racine (Op. 11) is a work for mixed chorus and piano or organ by Gabriel Fauré. Written by the nineteen-year-old composer in 1864-5, the piece won Fauré the first prize when he graduated from the École 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.
* Verbe egal au Tres-Haut, notre unique esperance
Jour dternel de la terre et des cieux,
De la paisible nuit nous rompons le silence
Divin Sauveur, jette sur nous les yeux!
Repands sur nous le feu de ta grace puissante
Dissipe le sommeil d’une ame languissante
Qui la conduit a l’oubli de tes lois!
O Christ, sois favorable a ce peiple fidele
Pour te benir maintenant rassemble
Recois les chants qu’il offre a ta gloire immortelle
Et de tes dons qu’il retourne comble!
*Word, equal to the Most High, our only hope,
Eternal day of the earth and the heavens,
We break the silence of the peaceful night.
Divine Savior, cast your eyes upon us!
Spread upon us the fire of your powerful grace,
That all hell might flee at the sound of your voice;
Dispel the languishing soul’s torpor
Which has caused it to forget your laws!
Oh Christ, show favour to this faithful people
Now gathered to bless you.
Receive the songs it offers to your immortal glory,
And may it return filled with your gifts!