Premiere Cesar Franck (1822-1890) “Panis Angelicus”: Sopranist Arno Argos Raunig (Austrian Opera Singer) Positive organ Margit Fussi 2018 Official homepage: http://arnoargos.com/
The song Panis Angelicus considered a Christmas song. Text: Panis angelicus fit panis hominum; Dat panis cœlicus figuris terminum: O res mirabilis! Manducat Dominum pauper, servus et humilis.
Te trina Deitas unaque poscimus: Sic nos tu visita, sicut te colimus; Per tuas semitas duc nos quo tendimus, Ad lucem quam inhabitas. Amen.
Thus Angels' Bread is made the Bread of man today: the Living Bread from heaven with figures dost away: O wondrous gift indeed! the poor and lowly may upon their Lord and Master feed.
Thee, therefore, we implore, o Godhead, One in Three, so may Thou visit us as we now worship Thee; and lead us on Thy way, That we at last may see the light wherein Thou dwellest aye. Amen. Many modern non-Catholics are unaware that their version of “Panis Anglicus” consists of only the music – composed by Cesar Franck. Someone took the lovely tune and set his own lyrics to it. When you see the original words, you will see that it is inspired by the Roman Catholic doctrine of “transubstantiation” where the substance of bread and wine literally change into the physical body and blood of Christ. Yet it still tastes, looks, feels, smells (its “accidents”) like wafers (“bread”) and wine.
Here is wikipedia Panis angelicus (Latin for “Bread of Angels” or “Angelic Bread”) is the penultimate strophe of the hymn “Sacris solemniis” written by Saint Thomas Aquinas for the Feast of Corpus Christi as part of a complete liturgy of the feast, including prayers for the Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours.
The strophe of “Sacris solemniis” that begins with the words “Panis angelicus” (bread of angels) has often been set to music separately from the rest of the hymn. Interesting story: Pavarotti’s father was also a tenor. Fernando Pavarotti was a talented tenor, but didn’t make a professional career out of his singing. However, he occasionally sang in public in Modena with a local choir and sometimes with his great son Luciano. Fernando and Luciano singing “Panis Angelicus” in the Modena cathedral in 1978.
Hopefully this will set you in a good Christmas mood! Merry Christmas!
