Central Presbyterian Church issued the following announcement Oct. 4.
César Franck’s ‘Panis Angelicus,’ with lyrics by Thomas Aquinas, says the bread of angels is for us as well
I’m working up a violin piece for church. With our choir still on pandemic hold, the call went out for special music, and I raised my hand.
Have you ever heard music that seemed familiar, even though you were hearing it for the first time? Music that moved you to the edge of tears? Music that set off sympathetic vibrations in the deep places of your heart?
The piece I’m practicing, “Panis Angelicus,” is that kind of music for me. The title is in Latin, and that may be a bit off-putting, but it just means bread of angels.
César Franck — his last name rhymes with honk — wrote the piece in 1872. He was living in Paris at the time, supporting his composing dream by working as a church organist and music teacher.
For the words, he chose a verse of a Latin hymn written by Thomas Aquinas in the 1200s. Old words paired with new notes — it’s a recurring theme in church music.
Original source can be found here.
Source: Central Presbyterian Church
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