Messe solennelle

Sacred works occupy a large part of Charles Gounod’s oeuvre. It was the Messe solennelle en l’honneur de Sainte Cécile that established his fame as a church composer. Its melodic invention and effective handling of the orchestra reveal a close proximity to opera.

This Urtext edition is based not only on the original print of 1856 but also on copyists’ manuscripts and autograph sources. Rounding off this well-researched Urtext edition are an informative Introduction and a detailed Critical Commentary. The edition is being published to celebrate the 200th anniversary of Gounod’s birth.

Instrumentation: Soprano solo, Tenor solo, Bass solo, Mixed choir (SATB), Piccolo flute, Flute (2), Oboe (2), Clarinet (in B) (2), Bassoon (4), Horn (4), Cornet (2), Trumpet (2), Trombone (3), Timpani, Cymbals, Concert bass drum, Harp, Violin (2), Viola, Violoncello, Double bass, Octobass, Organ