''Le Déluge'' ('The Flood'), Op. 45, is a French

oratorio An oratorio () is a musical composition with dramatic or narrative text for choir, soloists and orchestra or other ensemble. Similar to opera, an oratorio includes the use of a choir, soloists, an instrumental ensemble, various distinguisha ...

written by

Camille Saint-Saëns Charles-Camille Saint-Saëns (, , 9October 183516 December 1921) was a French composer, organist, conductor and pianist of the Romantic music, Romantic era. His best-known works include Introduction and Rondo Capriccioso (1863), the Piano ...

in 1875 and scored for orchestra, chorus, and soloists. The

libretto A libretto (From the Italian word , ) is the text used in, or intended for, an extended musical work such as an opera, operetta, masque, oratorio, cantata or Musical theatre, musical. The term ''libretto'' is also sometimes used to refer to th ...

, a "poème biblique" by Louis Gallet, is based on the biblical story of Noah and the flood. It was premiered at the Théâtre du Châtelet on 5 March 1876, under the direction of Edouard Colonne. Stylistically, the work shows the influence of

Berlioz Louis-Hector Berlioz (11 December 1803 – 8 March 1869) was a French Romantic music, Romantic composer and conductor. His output includes orchestral works such as the ''Symphonie fantastique'' and ''Harold en Italie, Harold in Italy'' ...

and

Wagner Wilhelm Richard Wagner ( ; ; 22 May 181313 February 1883) was a German composer, theatre director, essayist, and conductor who is chiefly known for his operas (or, as some of his mature works were later known, "music dramas"). Unlike most o ...

in its musical illustrations of the narrative and use of recurring motifs.Yves Gérard, tr. Roger Greaves (2000). "Le Déluge". In ''La Lyre et la Harpe – Le Déluge'' (pp. 30–31) D booklet Paris: BMG France. It also displays Saint-Saëns's strong predilection for

counterpoint In music theory, counterpoint is the relationship of two or more simultaneous musical lines (also called voices) that are harmonically dependent on each other, yet independent in rhythm and melodic contour. The term originates from the Latin ...

; there are three

fugue In classical music, a fugue (, from Latin ''fuga'', meaning "flight" or "escape""Fugue, ''n''." ''The Concise Oxford English Dictionary'', eleventh edition, revised, ed. Catherine Soanes and Angus Stevenson (Oxford and New York: Oxford Universit ...

s incorporated into the music.Arthur Hervey (1922). ''Saint-Saëns''. New York: Dodd Mead & Company. The work is divided into three parts and a prelude: *Prélude *I. ''Corruption de l'homme'' — ''Colère de Dieu'' — ''Alliance avec Noé'' *II. ''L'Arche'' — ''Le Déluge'' *III. ''La Colombe'' — ''Sortie de l'Arche'' — ''Bénédiction de Dieu'' The prelude is scored for strings only and contains a passage for solo violin. Part I describes the sinfulness of man and God's decision to destroy the world (''"J'exterminerai cette race"''). Part II is a long crescendo and decrescendo depicting the rain and rising waters of the flood. Part III evokes the flights of the dove and ends with God's promise not to curse the earth (''"Je ne maudirai plus la terre"'') and a choral fugue (''"Croissez donc et multipliez"''). Although ''Le Déluge'' is sometimes listed among Saint-Saëns' best compositions,Sabina Teller Ratner, et al. "Saint-Saëns, Camille." Grove Music Online. Oxford Music Online. it is rarely performed today. The prelude is sometimes extracted as a concert piece.Donald Brook (1971). ''Five Great French Composers: Berlioz, Franck, Saint-Saëns, Debussy, Ravel''. Ayer Publishing.

References

External links

*
Libretto
in a supplement to ''L'Art moderne'' from 1884 {{DEFAULTSORT:Deluge, Le Oratorios by Camille Saint-Saëns 1875 oratorios Noah's Ark in popular culture Oratorios based on the Bible