Lucien Deiss
The Reverend Lucien Deiss | |
|---|---|
| Born | 2 September 1921 Eschbach, France |
| Died | 9 October 2007 |
| Occupation(s) | Priest, professor, composer |
Lucien Deiss, CSSp was a French Catholic priest, biblical scholar, and liturgical composer. He was born in Eschbach, Bas-Rhin, on 2 September 1921, and died on 9 October 2007 at the age of 86.[2]
Biography
[edit]Deiss entered the Congregation of the Holy Ghost in 1942, and was ordained a priest in 1943, both during World War II. He also studied at the Pontifical Institute of Sacred Music in Rome. Passionate about the Bible and liturgy, for a year he was professor of Holy Scripture at the newly established major seminary of Brazzaville, Congo. Returning to France for health reasons in 1948, he spent decades as a professor and a retiree at the seminary of Chevilly-Larue, which later renamed its library in his honor.[2][3][4]
Deiss composed over 400 pieces of liturgical music, many inspired by Gregorian chant and Renaissance polyphony with biblical texts.[2] He once described the impetus for his composing career, starting at a small suburban parish in the 1950s: "I realized that the people knew almost nothing of the Bible, so I decided to try using music to help them memorize the more important texts."[1]
Beyond France, some of his works were widely translated and sold over 5 million copies.[2] His Biblical Hymns and Psalms (1965) was one of the first major collections of new music for English-language Masses, responding to the liturgical reforms of the Second Vatican Council in which he participated, and earning him an honorary Doctorate in Sacred Music from his congregation's Duquesne University.[5][6] The National Association of Pastoral Musicians named him "Pastoral Musician of the Year" for United States Catholics in 1992.[7] He received a Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros for the 2005 album Ave Maria that he recorded with his Chevilly seminary choir.[8]
Works
[edit]Musical compositions
[edit]French:
- Souviens-toi de Jésus-Christ
- L'Esprit de Dieu
- Terre entière chante ta joie
- Un seul Seigneur
- Peuple de prêtres, peuple de rois
English:[9]
- "All the Earth, Proclaim the Lord"
- "Grant to Us, O Lord"
- "Keep in Mind"
- "My Shepherd Is the Lord"
- "My Soul Is Longing for Your Peace"
- "With a Joyful Heart"
Books
[edit]- Synopse de Matthieu, Marc et Luc, avec les Paralleles de Jean. Desclée de Brouwer, 1963.
- Biblical Hymns and Psalms. Multiple volumes and publishers, starting 1965.
- Come, Lord Jesus: Biblical Prayers with Psalms and Scripture Readings. World Library Publications, 1981.
- La messe: sa célébration expliquée. Desclée de Brouwer, 1989.
- Joseph, Marie, Jésus. Editions Saint Paul, 1997.
- La Prière chrétienne des psaumes. Desclée de Brouwer, 2001.
References
[edit]- ^ a b Fox, Mary G. (October 2007). "We Remember a Wonderful Prophet: Lucien Deiss". Rite. 38 (5). Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ a b c d Senèze, Nicolas (11 October 2007). "Le P. Lucien Deiss, missionnaire de la beauté, est mort". La Croix (in French). Archived from the original on 13 October 2007.
- ^ Metzger, Robert (2002). "Le Père Lucien Deiss et le renouveau de la liturgie". Mémoire Spiritaine 16 (in French). Retrieved 2 April 2023 – via Bibliothèque Lucien Deiss, Congrégation du Saint-Esprit, Chevilly-Larue, France.
- ^ Geoffroy, Olivier (2018–2022). "Le Père Lucien Deiss et le chant liturgique". Musica et Memoria (in French). Retrieved 24 July 2023.
- ^ "Rev. Lucien Deiss, C.S.Sp., 1921–2007". World Library Publications. 10 October 2007. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007.
- ^ "Lucien Deiss, CSSp". Oregon Catholic Press. Retrieved 21 February 2023.
- ^ "NPM Awards". National Association of Pastoral Musicians. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ "Grand Prix de l'Académie Charles Cros". Qobuz. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
- ^ "Fr Lucien Deiss CSSp, 1921–2007". Wentworthville, Australia: Our Lady of Mount Carmel. 11 October 2007. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Artists | |
| Other | |
- Liturgists
- Holy Ghost Fathers
- 1921 births
- 2007 deaths
- 20th-century French composers
- 21st-century French composers
- French male composers
- French composers of sacred music
- 20th-century French Roman Catholic priests
- 21st-century French Roman Catholic priests
- 20th-century French male musicians
- 21st-century French male musicians