Fauré is a turgid, tacky bafoon of a composer who writes nothing but 4th-rate bombastic balderdash for pedantic plebians.

(My attemt at making a Bach-inspired criticism.)

 

I haven't a half of these words even in my dictionary. Was it just a joke inspired by Bach or do you really have such a bad meaning about this sensitive and unique composer?

Anyway, it is not accurate at all. "Bombastic" is the last word on this world that I would use in relation to Fauré. His compositions are works of intimacy. Including his large-scale Requiem.

 

I heard only a compilation cd of his works for cello and piano and I must say that I like it very much. He's definitely somewhere on the top of my "composers to check out" list.

 

I've all his chamber and piano, and IMO he was one of the top composers of his time.

 

I am playing his Elegie for cello and orch (but w/ piano, recording w/ orchestra is rare). It is absolutely amazing and has incrediably intense and powerful emotions in it. The harmonies are excellent as well.

 

This work one of the best mourning pieces I know. Beautiful in its simplicity and directness. I have version with orchestra (Julian Lloyd Webber).

 

Almost everyone loves his Pelléas et Mélisande and the beautiful Pavane Op.50, but I stumbled on a surprising work the Dolly Suite full of unexpected harmonic twists and turns. I think it was originally for piano, but all I have heard is an orchestral setting that is quite good I think.

 

I haven't checked out his work that much. I read a good bit about him though. I'm going to do more research on him. I have read that he was a great teacher and one of his most successful students was none other than a favorite composer of mine, Maurice Ravel.

 

I hear more Faure in Ravel's orchestral works than Debussy.

 

I'm sure you do and with good reason. Faure's favorite student was Ravel and Ravel mentioned the influence of Faure on his own work numerous times.

 

A fine composer who never gets riled and one of the nost contemplative creators of the previous century. The Requiem is probably his most well known work and gets played regularly around the world. It's not much of a challenge to play but you can get lost (psychologically) in it's beautiful harmonies and enchanting melodies and miss an entry!
More about this guy please!
FC

 

I've sung in the Requiem. It certainly is a fine work. I also love his violin sonatas and the few songs of his that I've heard.

 

I've sung in the Requiem.

I am extremely jealous! I want my school to do it (once a year we have a choral orchestral concert), but we are stuck with the Messiah and Gloria

 

i recently got a small choir together to perform his cantique de jean racine for a christening where i was playing the organ. a sublime little piece and justifiably famous.

 

Too bad he didn't complete his violin concerto!. He left only the first movement.

 

Besides his "highlights", Violin sonata No. 1 is very interesting, scherzo movement is excellent. Sonata is not so sublime as Franck's, but not worse at all. Balade for piano and orchestra is maybe superficial a bit, but also has some beautiful parts.

 

The Piano Quintet No.1 and the Piano Quartet No.1 are my favourites. The slow movement of the former almost made me cry a couple of times. Withering roses, colder mornings and passing summer holidays - that golden time of the year in early September, when summer loves start becoming summer memories.

The numbers 2 of the above mentioned works are almost as refined. Plus the Cello Sonata. I've recently said in another thread - Fauré is The Master of Refinement.

His music is somewhat autumnal. That's why I love it, but avoid it on happy days.

'Apres un reve' is my favourite French melodie.

 

Faure's "Pelleas et Melisande" is a beautiful piece. "Ballade" and "Masques et Bergamasques" are great and of course the "Requiem."

 

I remember I was a little turned off at first by Fauré because of a certain recording (I forget which) that was exploiting operatic vocals over solo piano, and that didn't sit so well in my stomach. It was when I checked out his Requiem later on, I realized I was making a great dismissing him, and turns out that peice fits my tastes perfectly. I will definitely try to find more of his works, but it is quite hard to find.

 

I remember I was a little turned off at first by Fauré because of a certain recording (I forget which) that was exploiting operatic vocals over solo piano

Lol. It's called mélodie - a genre in which Faure excelled.

 

I have a recording of Faure's Requiem which I have not visited in a while, but I should more often. A composer of delicacy and sensitivity.

 

everyone should check out the Brilliant Classics box of Fauré's Piano Music.. i got really cheap and it's one of my most listened recordings.. his piano music is just exquisite.. so elegant and passionate.. particularly his Nocturnes.. please do yourselves a favor and check it out..

 

AH! I LOVE Gabriel Faure. I was hooked on his music the first time I heard "Requiem."

 

Gabriel Faure -

Pieces that I have by Faure

-Requiem
-Pelleas et Melisande suite
-Pavane for choir and orchestra

Everything that I have by Faure is of such beauty, harmonically, melodically, and orchestration-wise. My favorite work by him that I have is the Pavane. It has such a magical, naive childlike innocence to its beauty. The harmonies are wonderful, the harmonic progressions. The requiem is also a great piece, more dramatic than the other two. It has insanely moving moments to it. Very comforting for a requiem. Faure is one of those composers that transports you to another world. The sensualness of his music is definitely something very French. The impressionists like Debussy definitely can trace some of their ancestry back to Faure.

 

Do you really think so?
Personally, I adore his Requiem. I would not call that 4th-rate bombastic balderdash.
He is one of the great 20th century french composers
But I guess its just opinions!

 

I am bringing this thread back from the crevices of this forum!

Particularly to draw attention to this masterpiece:

After what appears to be a bland introduction, the first variation is textured in almost unbearably beauty!

 

Faure has actually become my second favorite composer. His piano music is ethereal, his chamber music represents the greatest unknown masterpieces of the late 19th/early 20th centuries, he was arguably the greatest song writer of his generation, and as a teacher he paved the way for impressionism.

Here's his Clair de Lune, better than Debussy's in my opinion.

 

One of the many composers that I need to explore in more depth.

I have his requiem, Pavane and Pelleas and Melisande suite (or it might be the whole piece, I can't tell).

All are very gorgeous. Of course I have heard various other things by him along the way but not in depth as I would like to.

 

Hmm, that sounds familiar.

 

Next on my list to explore more deeply after Ravel. Got The Best of Faure. Pavane is really nice.