Les Djinns, Op. 12

Being such a prolific composer, particularly for Vocal and Piano works, Gabriel Fauré's music is always addressed with high expectations. His Les Djinns for SATB choir and Piano is no exception. Fauré (1845-1924) began receiving high quality musical instruction from age 10 at the Niedermeyer School. He eventually became a piano pupil of Camille Saint-Saëns. Fauré's career saw him succeed Théodore Dubois as organist at the Church of Madeleine in Paris and become professor of composition at the Paris Conservatoire, all the while composing sublime works. Les Djinns was written towards the beginning of the composer's career and is based on the poem of the same name by Victor Hugo. The poem depicts the sounds of the night. Each stanza becomes gradually longer as the text climaxes, and shortens again with the anticlimax, creating an arch form. Fauré mimics this in his music through use of structure, dynamics and the texture of the Piano accompaniment. With Fauré's music remaining hugely popular to this day, Les Djinns is a favourite for the choral repertoire.