Gloria (Poulenc)
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The Gloria by Francis Poulenc (FP 177) was written between May and December of 1959, sets the Roman Catholic Gloria in Excelsis Deo text, and is one of his most celebrated works. The Gloria is scored for soprano solo, large orchestra, and chorus. It was commissioned by the Koussevitsky Foundation in honor of Sergei Koussevitzky and his wife, the namesakes of the foundation. It was premiered in January of 1961 in Boston, MA by the Boston Symphony Orchestra under Charles Munch. It is divided into six movements and the relative keys are given below:
- 1. Gloria in Excelsis Deo (G major)
- 2. Laudamus Te (C major)
- 3. Domine Deus (B minor)
- 4. Domine Fili Unigenite (G major)
- 5. Domine Deus, Agnus Dei (B-flat minor)
- 6. Qui Sedes ad Dexteram Patris (G major)
[edit] Description
The first movement opens with a great chordal motif from the brass instruments, and the chorus enters singing in an accented and declamatory manner. The introduction begins in G major and modulates to a G minor chord, after which the woodwinds enter in parallel 4ths and 7ths. The chorus enters in double-dotted rhythms, reminiscent of the brass fanfare, in the key of B minor, accompanied by B minor triads over a pedal G in the bass. This relationship of juxtaposition between G major and B minor is an important one that returns throughout the piece.
The second movement is the most jocund opening with a strange, quick brass introduction. A light tune repeats throughout this movement along with an often-changing time signature. This movement is in the key of C, with a few exceptions of diversions throughout. The last line of the text, beginning "Gratias agimus..." is in a chromaticized mode, giving an other-worldly characteristic in the middle of the revelry of the movement. After this respite, there is a diversion to E-flat over an "oompah" bass figure. The accentuation of the text in this movement has been referred to as "perverse"[1], due to its un-speechlike patterns.
The third movement is led by the extremely dramatic solo soprano line after a woodwind introduction. The movement ends with a picardy third, preparing the way for the more joyful fourth movement.
The fourth movement is the shortest and resembles the second movement in the jocular nature of the orchestral phrases, but contains some of the accented nature of the first movement in the chorus parts. The melodic lines are often pentatonic, and the quick tempo and rousing rhythms give a whirling and dancing impression, grounded by the constant return of the theme[1].
The fifth movement opens with woodwinds and resembles the third movement with the return of the soprano soloist as leader. The music is dark and mysterious, due in part to the inclusion of both an augmented fourth and an augmented fifth in the soprano's opening melodic line. The movement culminates in an E-flat minor chord, a fifth lower than the beginning B-flat minor, giving an uneasy, mysterious feeling to the end. Of particular note is the similarity between the clarinet solos of this movement and part of the first movement of Poulenc's later clarinet sonata.
The sixth movement begins with alternating a cappella chorus and interjections of the orchestra intoning the fanfare theme from the first movement. After the introduction, the main setting of the text is reminiscent of the first movement, with the sixteenth note toiling line in the upper strings above a walking bass. The final section is preceded by a solo "Amen" from the soprano, echoed by the chorus. The chorus proceeds to repeat the text, this time over a mixture of B minor and G major chords in the orchestra. The fanfare theme from the first movement returns one final time before the final "amen", triumphantly slower and grander. The final "Amen" intoned by the soprano on a D relates to both the B minor and G major chords played simultaneously to end the piece.
