Author: Hilton Kean Jones

GATHERING MUSIC: Basse et Dessus de Trompette — Clérambault

PRELUDE: Feuilles Volantes #1  – Duparc

MUSIC 1: Il Pleut Bergère — French folk song

MUSIC 2: je ne cuit pas — Machaut (1300-1377)

OFFERTORY:  May We See Your Radiant Face — HKJ (USF Chamber Singers, Dr. John Richmond, dir., recorded in 1980s)

PREPARATION FOR PRAYER: Je T’appartiens — Bécaud

POSTLUDE: Prière des Orgues (from “Mass for the Poor” )— Satie

As part of this week’s Lenten series on saintly figures, this week’s features Simone Weil, most of the musical selections are French in her honor. The composer of this piece, Guillaume de Machaut, lived approximately 1300-1377 and wrote some of the earliest know true polyphony. To modern ears, his music is stark and sometimes uncompromising (often different parts of the counterpoint were in perfect relationship to a longer note melody–the cantus firmus–but not to each other). I wonder how his music sounded to ear of his time when prior to him they only knew single line music or music which paralleled a single line.

This French folk song is a tribute to Simone Weil as part of this week’s Lenten series of saintly figures.

Today’s example of French music in honor of Simone Weil, the saintly figure of center of this coming 4th Sunday of Lent service is Feuilles Volantes #1 by Henri Duparc. He’s best known for his songs. Here’s an example sung by Measha Bruggergosman: Chanson triste. The following video is the first of a set of short piano pieces by Duparc, all very intimate.