The legendary Philippe Jaroussky sings this vocal classic with the Chœur de l'Orchestre de Paris Orchestre de Paris, directed by Paavo Jarvi. When Gabriel Fauré fell in love with this prayer and used it in his Requiem (1887 – 1890), his friend Camille Saint-Saëns said:
“Just as Mozart’s is the only ‘Ave verum corpus’, this is the only ‘Pie Jesu.’”
Fauré might have composed one of the most famous settings of the couplet, but composers have been setting ‘Pie Jesu’ to music ever since.
Lyrics
Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem sempiternam.
Merciful Jesus, grant them rest everlasting
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