Francis Poulenc's Gloria

One of the most prominent French composers of the twentieth century and perhaps the best known since Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc is recognized for his melodic gifts and accessible style as well as his ability to be both profound and witty, often in the same composition. Since its premiere in 1961, Poulenc's Gloria has gone on become one of the most often-performed choral works of the twentieth century. A rewarding challenge to conductors and performers, the work proves to be...
More Description

One of the most prominent French composers of the twentieth century and perhaps the best known since Maurice Ravel, Francis Poulenc is recognized for his melodic gifts and accessible style as well as his ability to be both profound and witty, often in the same composition. Since its premiere in 1961, Poulenc's Gloria has gone on become one of the most often-performed choral works of the twentieth century. A rewarding challenge to conductors and performers, the work proves to be a pleasure to learn and perform. This unique work truly deserves its place in the international repertoire and the many performances it receives each year.This Monograph seeks to assist musicians who are preparing the Gloria for performance by providing them with relevant historical, analytical, and practical information about the composition and its composer, and by offering details about and solutions for the many issues and discrepancies found in the performance materials. It is the author's hope that this information will encourage more and better performances of this notable composition.