From Quatre Motets Sur Des Themes Gregoriens
Duruflé grew up in Louviers in the northern French region of Haute-Normandie (Upper Normandy), where as a boy he was a chorister and studied piano. At the age of 17 he moved to Paris to study organ with Charles Tournemire. A year later Duruflé wasadmitted to the Paris Conservatoire, where he studied organ, piano and composition, and was awarded five first prizes in various subjects. Upon graduation Duruflé became musical assistant to Louis Vierne at Notre Dame, but soon after this wasappointed organist at Saint Étienne-du-Mont in Paris, where he would remain for the rest of his life. In 1943 he was appointed professor of harmony at the Conservatoire, a position he maintained for 27 years. From 1926 until 1977 Duruflé published 14compositions, including the Requiem, Op. 9 (1947).
Duruflé traveled extensively as a concert organist, and was active as a recording artist. Later in life he and his second wife often performed as an organ duo. The composer suffered severe injuriesin an automobile accident in 1975, which left him nearly bed-ridden for the final decade of his life Composed in 1960, Quatre Motets sur des thèmes grégoriens, Op. 10 (Four Motets on Gregorian Themes) were dedicated to Auguste le Guennant, director of the Gregorian Institute in Paris. Each of the four motets begins with an incipit of Gregorianchant, which serves as melodic inspiration for the composition that follows. The four motets are (in order): “Ubi caritas,” “Tota pulchra es,” “Tu es Petrus,” and “Tantum ergo.” “Ubi caritas” is an early Christian antiphon traditionally used in the Maundy Thursday service during the washing of the feet, an act of Jesus from the Last Supper. The antiphon has become closely associated with the Eucharist, and is sometimes alsoused at weddings. Duruflé sets only the first of the four stanzas of the text.
