Collection: GABRIEL FAURE (1845 – 1924)
Gabriel Urbain Fauré stands as a pivotal figure in French music, a composer whose distinctive voice bridged the late Romantic era and the burgeoning Impressionism and Modernism of the early 20th century. Born in Pamiers, southern France, in 1845, Fauré displayed early musical talent and was sent to Paris at the age of nine to study at the École Niedermeyer, a school specializing in church music. This education proved formative, steeping him in the traditions of plainchant and Renaissance polyphony, influences that subtly coloured his harmonic language throughout his career. Crucially, he studied piano with Camille Saint-Saëns, who became a lifelong friend and mentor, introducing Fauré to contemporary music beyond the church walls.
Fauré's early professional life was primarily centered around the organ loft and teaching. He held positions as an organist in Rennes and later at several prominent Parisian churches, including Saint-Sulpice and eventually the prestigious La Madeleine, where he served as choirmaster and later chief organist. He was also a founding member of the Société Nationale de Musique in 1871, aimed at promoting contemporary French music. Despite these activities, widespread recognition as a major composer came relatively late in his life. His music, often characterized by its subtlety, harmonic sophistication, and emotional restraint, lacked the overt drama or nationalist fervour favoured by some contemporaries.
His compositions evolved steadily, moving away from early Schumannesque influences towards an increasingly personal style. Fauré excelled in intimate genres. He is arguably the greatest master of the French art song (mélodie) after Berlioz, composing over a hundred songs throughout his life. Cycles like La Bonne Chanson (settings of Verlaine) and the late masterpiece L'Horizon Chimérique demonstrate his extraordinary sensitivity to poetic text, weaving vocal lines seamlessly with complex, yet fluid, piano accompaniments. His piano music, including numerous Nocturnes, Barcarolles, Impromptus, and Preludes, reveals a similar refinement – lyrical, harmonically adventurous, and demanding subtle touch and phrasing rather than virtuosic display.
Fauré's chamber music is equally significant, containing some of his most profound creations. The two Piano Quartets and two Piano Quintets are cornerstones of the repertoire, showcasing his gift for long melodic lines, rich textures, and intricate thematic development. Works like the lyrical First Violin Sonata and the elegiac Cello Sonatas further cemented his reputation in this field.
Perhaps his most universally beloved work is the Requiem (composed between 1887 and 1890, later revised). Unlike the dramatic settings of Verdi or Berlioz, Fauré's Requiem is a work of serene consolation and acceptance. Its focus on eternal rest, omitting the fiery "Dies Irae" sequence (except for its final line), creates a profoundly gentle and luminous atmosphere, particularly evident in the ethereal "In Paradisum." Other popular orchestral works include the elegant Pavane (often heard with optional chorus) and the incidental music for Maeterlinck's play Pelléas et Mélisande.
In 1896, Fauré was appointed professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire, and in 1905, he became its director, implementing significant reforms that modernized the institution. He taught several influential composers, including Maurice Ravel, George Enescu, and Nadia Boulanger. Despite increasing deafness in his later years, Fauré continued to compose, producing works of remarkable introspection and harmonic daring, such as the String Quartet (his only work in the genre, completed shortly before his death) and the Piano Trio.
Gabriel Fauré died in Paris in 1924. He left behind a legacy of music marked by its unique blend of classical restraint and forward-looking harmony. His work eschewed grandiosity for intimacy, finding profound expression in nuance, melodic grace, and harmonic subtlety. Fauré remains a quintessential voice in French music, admired for his elegance, craftsmanship, and enduring emotional depth.
