Cras, J.: Mass in D Minor / Dans La Montagne / Hymne En L'Honneur D'Une Sainte / Panis Angelicus / Ave Verum / Ave Maria / Regina Coeli

Featuring

Pierre Calmelet
Vincent Rigot
Sophie Marin-Degor
Pierre Farago
Catherine Montier
David Lauer

Le Madrigal de Paris
Jean Cras

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Composition History

The Mass in D minor was composed in stages, with movements written in various locations including Brest, Quiberon, during a sea crossing between Quebec and the Canadian Maritimes, and in Sydney, Nova Scotia.

Composition History

The Grande marche nuptiale for organ was composed by Cras in 1904 for his own wedding in 1906, and was premiered by his teacher Henri Duparc.

Composer Biography

Jean Cras, a French composer born in 1879, was also a naval officer who achieved the rank of rear-admiral and invented a navigation ruler that still bears his name.

Composer's Artistic Vision

Cras saw himself as a mediator between a higher will and his music, considering faith a fertile source of joy and a comfort.

Composition History

Jean Cras, though self-taught, received serious composition instruction from Henri Duparc, a disciple of César Franck, starting in 1901.

Composer Biography

Cras maintained a dual career as both a naval officer and a musician, unlike other 'sailor-musicians' like Albert Roussel and Nikolai Rimsky-Korsakov.

Compositional Technique

For his Mass, Cras intentionally limited himself to four voices, aiming for a monumental sound without artificial means like additional instruments or doubling.