Text by Charles Jean Grandmougin
Music by Gabriel Fauré
Fauré composed "Toujours" in 1878 as the final chanson in a set of three entitled Poème d'un jour, Op. 21. The virtuosic accompaniment continues throughout, fiery and unabated, and establishes the mood of the passionate, yet hopelessly lost and bitter lover. Fauré's performance indication is Allegro con Fuoco and brilliantly displays one of the most powerful and frightening of all human emotions - anger. His fascination for the texts he chose to set is clearly seen in the melodies and harmonies that surround them. Perhaps even more than that of Debussy, Fauré's chansons are in the hands of almost every young man and woman studying voice. They are the epitome of great literature for the young singer. The arranger set "Toujours" with this concept in mind and to expose a wider audience to the beautiful lyricism of Gabriel Fauré.