Panis angelicus

A long-standing favourite in its own right – not least as an organ or choral piece at weddings –César Franck’s Panis angelicus was first published as a small part of a much longer liturgical work. As organist of the recently completed basilica of Sainte-Clotilde in Paris (a post he held from 1858 until his death more than thirty years later), Franck was occasionally required to provide music for the services there. Although he was actually valued less as a composer in his early days at Sainte-Clotilde than as an exponent of after-service improvisations on the great Cavaillé-Coll organ, he did complete two Masses at this time as well as a few shorter pieces of music for the Church.

It was for the second of the Masses that, taking the words from a hymn for Corpus Christi by St Thomas Aquinas, Franck wrote his Panis angelicus – though only as an afterthought. When the Mass in A for three voices was first performed at Sainte-Clotilde in 1861 it contained no Panis angelicus. It was not until a revised version of the Mass was published in 1872, with Panis angelicus modestly inserted as a tenor solo (with organ, harp, cello and double-bass accompaniment), that the world became aware of one of Franck’s most inspired melodies. The Mass was soon forgotten. Panis angelicus, on the other hand, has become more and more popular, in arrangements for every conceivable combination, ever since.

Panis angelicus fit panis hominum;

Dat panis caelicus figuris terminum;

O res mirabilis: manducat Dominum

Pauper, servus et humilis.

Bread of angels is made bread of man;

Bread from Heaven makes no distinctions;

What a miracle! On the Lord feed

The poor, the lowly and the humble.