André Raison: Messe du Sixiesme Ton And Three Magnificats
Few details are known about the life of André Raison. He was born around 1650, and his early schooling was at the Seminary of the Abbey of Ste. Geneviève in Nanterre. By about the age of 16 Raison served as organist of the Royal Abbey of Ste. Geneviève du Mont (Augustinian Order), where he remained employed until his death. His first known publication was released in 1688, at the age of around 38:
- Livre d’orgue contenant cinq messes suffisantes pour tous les tons de l’église, quinze Magnificats pour ceux qui n’ont pas besoin de messe avec des Élevations toutes particulières. Ensuite des Benedictus, et une offerte en action de grâce pour l’heureuse convalescence du Roy en 1687, laquelle se pout aussi toucher sur le clavecin. Paris, auteur, 1688
Little else is known about Raison’s professional activities, and there are no other extant compositions until the Second livre d’orgue of 1714. However, by 1695, tax records show that he had risen to such a level of respect and renown that his earnings were on a par with the most prestigious of the French organists: Louis Marchand (1669-1732), François Couperin (1668-1733), and Nicolas de Grigny (1672-1703). Among Raison’s students was Louis-Nicolas Clérambault (1676-1749), successor to Guillaume-Gabriel Nivers as organist of Saint-Sulpice in Paris, and of the Maison Royale de Saint-Louis à Saint-Cyr.
The Livre d’orgue of André Raison contains five alternatim Masses (in tones 1, 2, 3, 6, and 8), in which each movement is specifically labeled with its precise liturgical function (for example Quoniam tu solus of the Gloria in excelsis). The original liturgical performance practice divided the text of each section of the Ordinary of the Mass between the organ and sung chant in the following manner (verses in simple text are sung, verses in bold are represented by one of Raison’s versets):
| Track Number | Genre | Mass Text | Translation |
| 1 | Grand Plein Jeu | Kyrie Eleison | Lord, have mercy |
| Chant | Kyrie Eleison | Lord, have mercy | |
| 2 | Basse et Dessus de Trompette | Kyrie Eleison | Lord, have mercy |
| Chant | Christe Eleison | Christ, have mercy | |
| 3 | Trio en Chaconne | Christe Eleison | Christ, have mercy |
| Chant | Christe Eleison | Christ, have mercy | |
| 4 | Duo | Kyrie Eleison | Lord, have mercy |
| Chant | Kyrie Eleison | Lord, have mercy | |
| 5 | Dialogue | Kyrie Eleison | Lord, have mercy |
| Chant | Gloria in excelsis Deo | Glory be to God on high | |
| 6 | Plein jeu | Et in terra pax hominibus bonae voluntatis | And in earth peace, goodwill towards men |
| Chant | Laudamus te | We praise thee | |
| 7 | [Récit de] Cornet | Benedicimus te | we bless thee |
| Chant | adoramus te | we worship thee | |
| 8 | Trio en Dialogue | glorificamus te | we glorify thee |
| Chant | gratias agimus tibi propter magnam gloriam tuam | we give thanks to thee, for thy great glory | |
| 9 | Basse et Dessus de Trompette | Domine Deus, Rex caelestis, Deus pater omnipotens | O Lord God, heavenly King, God the Father Almighty |
| Chant | Domine Fili Unigenite, Jesu Christe | O Lord, the only-begotten Son, Jesu Christ | |
| 10 | Recit de Cromorne ou de Tierce | Domine Deus, Agnus Dei, Filius Patris | O Lord God, Lamb of God, Son of the Father, |
| Chant | qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis | that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us | |
| 11 | Trio | qui tollis peccata mundi, suscipe deprecationem nostram | Thou that takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. |
| Chant | Qui sedes ad dexteram Patris, miserere nobis. | Thou that sites at the right hand of God the Father, have mercy upon us. | |
| 12 | Voix humaine | Quoniam tu solus Sanctus, | For thou only art holy; |
| Chant | tu solus Dominus | thou only art the Lord; | |
| 13 | Récit [de Cromorne et de Cornet] | tu solus Altissimus, Jesu Christe, | thou only, O Christ (with the Holy Ghost), art most high |
| Chant | cum Sancto Spiritu: in gloria Dei Patris. | [with the Holy Ghost] in the glory of God the Father. | |
| 14 | Dialogue | Amen. | Amen. |
| 15 | Plein jeu | Sanctus, | Holy, |
| Chant | Sanctus | Holy, | |
| 16 | Recit de Tierce | Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. | Holy, Lord God of Hosts. |
| Chant | Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. | Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. Hosanna in the highest. | |
| 17 | Trio | Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. | Blessed is He that cometh in the name of the Lord. |
| Chant | Hosanna in excelsis | Hosanna in the highest. | |
| 18 | Cromorne ou Tierce en Taille | [Elévation] | |
| 19 | Grand plein jeu | Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. | O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. |
| Chant | Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. | O Lamb of God, that takest away the sins of the world, have mercy upon us. | |
| 20 | Duo | Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. | O Lamb of God, that takes away the sins of the world, grant us thy peace. |
| Chant [Priest] | Ite Missa est | Go, the Mass is ended | |
| 21 | Petit plein jeu | Deo Gratias | Thanks be to God. |
The title page of Raison’s Livre d’orgue suggests that the entire collection of movements can also be used as “Quinze Magnificats pour ceux qui n’ont pas besoin de Messe avec des Élevations toutes particulieres.” This easy change of purpose for each verset is made possible by the fact that Raison’s Masses do not quote any plainchant, allowing an organist freedom to transplant any movement to another purpose—according to the tone and specific mood of the verset. For the present recording, the Mass on the 6th Tone is presented in its original layout as a Mass, and three Magnificats have been constructed from versets on the 2nd, 3rd, and 8th tones. The alternatim plan of chant and organ for these Magnificats is as follows:
Magnificat du 2 ton (Magnificat on the 2nd tone)
| Track Number | Genre [And original placement in the Mass of the same tone] | Magnificat Text | Translation |
| Chant | Magnificat | [My soul] doth magnify [the Lord] | |
| 22 | Plein jeu [Agnus Dei] | anima mea Dominum | My soul [doth magnify] the Lord |
| Chant | et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, | and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. | |
| 23 | Récit de Cornet et de Cromorne [Quoniam tu Solus - Gloria] | quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, | For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. |
| Chant | quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, | For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. | |
| 24 | Fugue pour une basse de Trompette ou de Tierce [Tu Solus Altissimus - Gloria] | et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum. | And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. |
| Chant | Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui; | He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | |
| 25 | Fugue pour un Cromorne ou Voix humaine en Taille [Benedictus] | deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles; | He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. |
| Chant | esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes. | He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. | |
| 26 | Basse et dessus de Voix humaine [Elévation] | Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae, | He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: |
| Chant | sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula. | as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. | |
| 27 | Dialogue [Dernier Agnus] | Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, | Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost |
| Chant | Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. | As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. | |
| 28 | Petit plein jeu [Deo Gratias] | Amen. | Amen. |
Magnificat du 3 ton (Magnificat on the 3rd tone)
| Track Number | Genre [And original placement in the Mass of the same tone] | Magnificat Text | Translation |
| Chant | Magnificat | [My soul] doth magnify [the Lord] | |
| 29 | Plein jeu [Premier Kyrie] | anima mea Dominum | My soul [doth magnify] the Lord |
| Chant | et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, | and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. | |
| 30 | Fugue grave sur la trompette [Second Kyrie] | quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, | For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. |
| Chant | quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, | For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. | |
| 31 | Basse de Trompette ou de Tierce [Second Agnus] | et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum. | And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. |
| Chant | Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui; | He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | |
| 32 | Récit de Cromorne [Quoniam tu Solus - Gloria] | deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles; | He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. |
| Chant | esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes. | He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. | |
| 33 | Basse et dessus de Voix humaine [Tu Solus Altissimus - Gloria] | Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae, | He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: |
| Chant | sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula. | as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. | |
| 34 | Dialogue [Amen - Gloria] | Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, | Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost |
| Chant | Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. | As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. | |
| 35 | Petit plein jeu [Deo Gratias] | Amen. | Amen. |
Magnificat du 8 ton (Magnificat on the 8th tone)
| Track Number | Genre [And original placement in the Mass of the same tone] | Magnificat Text | Translation |
| Chant | Magnificat | [My soul] doth magnify [the Lord] | |
| 36 | Grand plein jeu [Premier Kyrie] | anima mea Dominum | My soul [doth magnify] the Lord |
| Chant | et exsultavit spiritus meus in Deo salvatore meo, | and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour. | |
| 37 | Duo [Christe] | quia respexit humilitatem ancillae suae. Ecce enim ex hoc beatam me dicent omnes generationes, | For he hath regarded: the lowliness of his handmaiden. For behold, from henceforth: all generations shall call me blessed. |
| Chant | quia fecit mihi magna, qui potens est, et sanctum nomen eius, | For he that is mighty hath magnified me: and holy is his Name. | |
| 38 | Basse de trompette [Quatriesme Kyrie] | et misericordia eius in progenies et progenies timentibus eum. | And his mercy is on them that fear him: throughout all generations. |
| Chant | Fecit potentiam in brachio suo, dispersit superbos mente cordis sui; | He hath showed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts. | |
| 39 | Tierce en taille [Deo Gratias ou autre piece] | deposuit potentes de sede et exaltavit humiles; | He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek. |
| Chant | esurientes implevit bonis et divites dimisit inanes. | He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away. | |
| 40 | Récit de Cromorne [Quoniam tu solus - Gloria] | Suscepit Israel puerum suum, recordatus misericordiae, | He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: |
| Chant | sicut locutus est ad patres nostros, Abraham et semini eius in saecula. | as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever. | |
| 41 | Dialogue [Dernier Kyrie] | Gloria Patri, et Filio, et Spiritui Sancto, | Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost |
| Chant | Sicut erat in principio, et nunc, et semper, et in saecula saeculorum. | As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. | |
| 42 | Plein jeu [Agnus Dei] | Amen. | Amen. |