Faure - Pavane Op. 50 (Choral version)

Halle Choir and Orchestra conducted by Maurice Handford, 1981

[JesualdoFesa]

maybe some young people are, but I am only 16 and I find this...well, there are no words to describe it, are there? it's just hauntingly beautiful, and makes you think about every little detail you ignore about your life. by only closing your eyes, you start to ask yourself so many things, important ones. and that's what real music does to you, the meaning is in every note, and everyone as a special way to understand the music. now if you excuse, I'm going to close my eyes for about 6 minutes.

[saskiavandenkieboom]

Faure music is the antidotum of these times. His music shows there is goodness, love, kind tenderness... May this music enlighten our hearts

[katrinat.]

WFLN was the classical music radio station in Philadelphia. Every night at midnight they played Faure’s Pavane before they went off the air. I would reach out in my sleep and turn the radio off. I can’t believe I went to sleep with such beautiful music in my ears.

[benoitpellet]

For years I have considered Fauré to be a "minor master" even within the French repertoire alongside such giants as Debussy and Saint-Saens, but I have to say that after an afternoon of listening to this, the Requiem and the Cantique de Jean Racine, he is right up there amongst the giants.

[SarumChoirmaster]

When I was a young kid, just starting to play violin and in the 5th grade, I manged to get my grandmother's old wind-up pathe victrola playing, I found in it, a recording from Decca. I placed that prestine old 78 recording on the platter, wound up the Pathe and gently placed the needle on that record. This piece of music came forth and I have been in love with it ever since. I am now 62 years old and it still brings me bitter sweet joy, happiness, so many memories of my poor Kentucky childhood and some degree of melancholia.  I am now a violist, teacher, composer, choirmaster, organist and poet.  This was my first introduction into the love of music!

[jinius]

I grew up in the 80's and 90's and Hip Hop and jungle were my main musical influences, but around 1992, i heard this piece... it completely blew me away and redefined what i thought of music... when the choral piece kicked in i nearly cried... even now, i cannot help but smile in pure joy at this single piece.

[francogallina]

Adoro ascoltare le bellissime canzoni degli autori a cavallo tra il 19 mo ed il 20mo secolo, in special modo DeBUSSY E RAVEL.
Queste dolcissime composizioni hanno una carica di sentimento ai tempi nostri perduta ed oltre a di l' hanno un fortissimo accostamento amoroso e di attenzione verso la. natura e le sue manifestazioni.
Ai tempi nostri la natura ci scorre davanti pressoché' inosservata tanto d' forte il "rumore di fondo" provocato dai nostri innumerevoli giocattoli tecnologici.

[gerardbegni]

This pavan is a miracle. The music is not so complex, above all for an harmonist like Fauré. The orchestration is very simple. But it is a miracle. Nothing more simple than the first bars can be written, with a flute in the bass register and thee strings pizzicato. And nevertheless, this pavan is so beautiful !

[Manas-cowl]

I love how it's this simple in sheet music and still be mysterious, mellow, and majestic all at the same time.

[danis]

When I listen to this choral version the enter of voices and violins allows me to see Heaven on Earth

[mcfch]

I heard it on the BBC coverage of the 1998 Commonwealth Games coverage (I think closing credits) and went straight out and bought it on single. I don't know if anybody else in these comments did but just wanted to add my comment for posterity 😂. What an amazing piece of music.

[loverlyme]

It never occurred to me that there would be a choral version of this piece. I had a copy of the piece over 40 years ago but it was a version for piano and cello. Nice to see the vocal version. Even nicer to be able to follow the music with it.

[AndyMuellerezb]

Pure pleasure to listen to. Fine fine horn playing in there. Beautiful!

[Fajr]

...Celestiale, delicato..con un "gioco" tra le voci dei soprani contrapposte alle voci dei bassi e le voci dei contralti contrapposte a quelle dei tenori... un brano in cui il coro in alcuni punti si trova "scoperto" e dovrà dimostrare tutta la sua

[prototropo]

This evocative gem is special in many ways. It's seemingly simple melody is actually a very sophisticated vehicle for wondrous harmonic conceits that Faure clearly planned ahead, rather than settling for along the way, He quickly recruits the relative major in repeating this coy, romantic melody, permitting the use of major sixths and sevenths when the development suggests a return to minor, and the entire pavane plays with our expectations in drifting through parallel major 3rds and 6ths. Rameau, Saint-Saens and Ravel all loved this dance of major/minor ambiguity, defying the Germanic pattern of keeping a distinct demarcation between the possible major/minor modulations during a work's discursive journey. This elegant refusal to choose a mode definitively is, I believe, an admirable, iconic, esthetic tradition in French art, and gives us an "all-options-open" continuous sensation that affords French genius its burnished suspension and affectionate freshness, both.
When someone insists that you make a needlessly abrupt or irreversible decision, surrendering your freedom to move carefully but intentionally, ask them to sit quietly for five more minutes, while you play Faure's pavane. Be sure to imbue it with unmistakable nuance, and a sense of destiny . . . yours.

[MichaelConwayBaker]

One of the most beautiful pieces ever written.

[paulajames]

Pure joy. My dream is to see this piece performed live 💓 I once went into a tiny church for a rest and solace. I didn't see or hear anything and then a choir suddenly started singing. It was pure bliss. I don't know what the song was, but this brings back that moment

[MrEjidorie]

What a divinely beautiful sound! I can hear a voice from Heaven.

[magorzatamargaret]

The most beautiful version of this music....

[thelma]

Magnifique ! Et merci pour la partition...
"Adieu donc, et bons jours aux tyrans de nos coeurs..." Un de mes morceaux préférés. One of my favorite pieces of music.