Messe solennelle in A major op. 12

The Messe solennelle op. 12 dates from 1860, two years before Franck was appointed to the post of organist at Sainte-Clotilde. Premiered in this parish on 2 April 1861, the mass was subsequently revised. The Credo and the Agnus Dei underwent substantial changes and the initial O Salutaris was replaced by a Panis Angelicus. This final version was performed on 24 April 1878 (again at Sainte-Clotilde).The organ, which was the composer’s instrument of choice, is responsible both for supporting the voices and adding contrapuntal polyphony. After a long introduction, the writing of the Kyrie recalls the “florid” style of chorale. The evocation of Christ in the second verse is in sharp contrast, with its minor keys, imitative writing and short homophonic motifs. The Gloria begins with harparpeggios whose rhythmic values create an unusual texture. The cello continues with a melodic statement before the entry of the tenor solo. The movement ends with a return to the mood of the start. Building from the entry of the solo basses, a slow tempo and an undulating counterpoint in C minor, the Credo ends triumphantly in C major in a blaze of modal colours. The Sanctus sets up a determined and “majestic” mood with more rhythmical themes, while its introspective counterpart, the Panis Angelicus, is set apart by the presence of the harp and a counterpoint ornamented with chromatic shifts. Finally, the Agnus Dei provides a showcase for the solo voices before the entry of the chorus. The work ends with the chorus alone, singing the phrase “dona nobis pacem” homorhythmically and ppp.