The Eleventh Day of Christmas

On the eleventh day of Christmas, we share cellist Robin Snyder and organist Eric Tuan’s performance of César Franck’s “Panis Angelicus” (“Bread of Heaven”). A composer, organist, and professor at the Paris Conservatoire, Franck was known for his pioneering performances on the then-new symphonic organs of legendary organ builder Aristide Cavaillé-Coll. The text of Panis angelicus, written by St. Thomas Aquinas, reflects on the miraculous nature of the Eucharist and its ability to “nourish the poor, the servile, the humble.” Franck’s lyrical setting and soaring lines are well suited to the melodic warmth of the cello.