Leading French Composers Catholics

New Zealand Tablet, Volume XLIX, Issue 20, 18 May 1922, Page 33

Leading French Composers Catholics

Tho paper La Lihcrte recently started an investigation among the musicians and dramatic critics of the country to find who is considered to lie the greatest of French musicians since the death of Saint-,Saens. The answers showed that the two greatest living French musicians are both Catholic composers. The majority of the composers and critics designated Gabriel Fan re as the head of the French school to-day. By a strange coincidence Gabriel Fan re succeeded SaintSaens as organist at the Madeleine, although he resigned about lo years ago when he became director of the Paris conservatory. Although he is known principally for his symphonies and instrumental works, Gabriel Faure is also the author of a famous Requiem Mass, which is considered to be one of the masterpieces of modern music, and also of numerous motets to the Blessed Sacrament and the Blessed V irgin, the music of which has an infinitely delicate and mystical poetic quality. Some of the answers to the investigation mentioned Vincent dTndy as the foremost French composer, and even those who did not give him first place admit that he comes immediately after Gabriel Faure. Count Vincent dTndy, a pupil of Cesar Franck, has been the faithful guardian of tho doctrine of the great Christian master, and continues his work. He is the director of the Schola Cantoning and is an avowed Catholic. He has composed many symphonies and dramatic works. Ho is also the author of the very Christian Legend of St. Christopher, which, last year, was placed on the repertory of the opera of Paris.