Charles Francois Gounod was a French composer. He was born in 1818 at Paris and died in 1893.
He studied at the Conservatoire under Jacques Halevy, Lesueur, and Pauer, and afterwards in Italy. His first important work was Faust (produced in 1859), which raised him to a high rank among composers. Other operas followed, among which are Mireille (1864), Romeo et Juliette, Cinq Mars (1877), and Polyeucete (1878). He wrote also a Messe Solennelle, a motet Gallia, and other choral works and songs; oratorios Redemption (1882), Mors et Vita (1885), and a Mass for the Jeanne D'Aro festival (1887). Research Charles Gounod
An anthem was originally a hymn sung in alternate parts. In later usage the term applied to a sacred tune or piece of music set to words taken from the Psalms or other parts of the Scriptures, in modern times the term generally applies to a national song. Anthems were first introduced into church service in Elizabeth I's reign as a developed motet. The original anthems could be for one, two, or any number of voices, but seldom exceeded five parts, and may or may not have had an organaccompaniment written for them. Research Anthem
A motet is a form of sacredchoral composition of moderate length, set to Latin words, and from the 14th century frequently used to supplement the service of high mass. Its music is written in one or other of the old ecclesiastical modes, and the theme is generally of a sacred character, as the melody of a plaint chant; but secular melodies have also been utilised. Certain sections usually contain passages for solo, which choralaccompaniment in fluidcounterpoint. Research Motet
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