Maurice Duruflé was more influenced by Gregorian Chant than anything else. His gorgeous Messe cum jubilo was based upon the centuries-old chant which you will hear first, sung by the men of Voices. Unlike the joyous, brilliant Sanctus he composed for his Requiem, this Sanctus is one of conflicting emotions. It begins with great mystery. The rich organ chords sit on top of an ostinato bass line which depicts the tune of a great carillon. Against that background sits the Gregorian chant, as sung by the men. When heard by itself, the chant is serene and lofty. But Duruflé sets it here in an atmosphere of mystery, which he has achieved not only with the nature of the accompaniment itself, but by setting the chant in E Major and the accompaniment in C. Immediately there is conflict. After the first phrases of the chant are heard, the chant is taken by the French horn. Then, the heavy pedal of the organ drops out and is replaced with a gentle pillow of string tones (Pleni sunt coeli.) The build up slowly begins. After each few measures, the music modulates to new keys. The Pleni sunt coeli theme repeats, higher and higher. All the orchestral parts are churning up, swelling in volume. Finally the music arrives, fortissimo, at the beginning material: the organ carillon in C and the chant in E, played full-out by all the violins and violas. “Hosanna in the Highest!” cry out the men, to trumpet fanfares. But this climax is not the glittering celebration of his Requiem’s Sanctus. This is more of a parting of the clouds to reveal a great vision: regal, majestic, with splendor, but also encompassing a world of suffering. The movement ends in the mystery with which it began. – Dennis Keene

GREGORIAN CHANT "Sanctus" from Missa cum jubilo
from the Delos recording From Chant to Renaissance ℗ 1995 Delos

MAURICE DURUFLÉ "Sanctus" from Messe cum jubilo
from the Delos recording The Duruflé Album ℗ 1995 Delos

Voices of Ascension
Dennis Keene, Artistic Director
Mark Kruczek, Organ
David Jolley, French Horn

The singers in these performances are represented by the American Guild of Musical Artists, AFL-CIO.