For today's piece, I recorded a movement from Francois Couperin's Mass for the Convents: the 5th couplet from the Gloria. I was inspired by hearing Michael Emmerich play it at St. Cecelia's Cathedral in Omaha.
Published in 1690, the mass is in the tradition of the French organ mass at the end of the 17th century. The organ mass, originally found in Italy, would alternate verses of the various parts of the Ordinary of the Mass between the singers and the organist, giving the singers an opportunity to rest. However, in France it took another direction, according to the program notes of Jean-Baptiste Robin's Naxos recording for Naxos:
"At this period the organist followed the Parisian Ceremonial of 1662 that lays down some rules for the performance of religious offices and the place of the organ in each of them. The organ, the choir and the celebrant alternate or combine their contributions to the liturgy. Each organ piece is short and functional: it can serve to illustrate a verse or fill a space in the service. When the organ replaces a verse, this verse is not spoken and the text of the Mass is incomplete. It was the tradition then for the text to be spoken in a low voice by the choir, or in an intelligible voice by a single speaker. The music then illustrates the meaning and character of the text, while it is recited."
This particular couplet is interesting. It is the part of the Gloria that states "Lord, King, heavenly God, Father, almighty". For me this is kind of surprising, because it isn't bombastic or even lightly "royal" sounding. Instead he sets it as an crommhorne in the tenor part against a primarily accompanimental soprano, alto, and bass part.
The registration isn't quite right. The organ I am playing doesn't have a Crommhorne or even an oboe on it. So, I substituted the Trumpet with a Plein Jeux III for the solo part. The upper voices are a Bourdon 8' with an Octave 4' and the pedal was simply a Bourdon 8'--which is weird for me to do. Usually, I must use a 16' in the pedals!
I have been working on my French playing in preparation for an exam in June. Any tips and pointers would be welcomed.
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