A Prayer of Charles de Foucault

Description

This is a lovely setting of this moving prayer. Charles de Foucault (1858-1916) underwent a religious conversion early in his life and became a hermit and servant to the poor in Algeria. This poem begins with a tender plea to the Father and continues with an entreaty to abandon ourselves to God’s will. Paul French’s music has a sense of inevitability about it that makes the work so gratifying to sing. The flow of the piece is enhanced by the organ accompaniment as well as the rhythmic variety of the voice parts. There is wide opportunity for warmth of expression through rubato and key changes. This would be an excellent piece as an introit as well as a choral prayer.