Elend "Leçons de Ténèbres"

Leçons de Ténèbres is the debut album of the neoclassical band Elend. It was the first in the Officium Tenebrarum trilogy.

The lyrics to four songs (Chanting, Into Bottomless Perdition, Lucifer and The Emperor) are texts adapted from John Milton's Paradise Lost.

Track listing

1. "Leçon de Ténèbres" — (3:31)
2. "Chanting" — (6:22)
3. "Into Bottomless Perdition" — (7:07)
4. "Deploration" — (5:41)
5. "Infernal Beauty" — (5:13)
6. "Lucifer" — (10:05)
7. "Eclipse" — (8:10)
8. "The Reign of Chaos and Old Night" — (5:00)
9. "The Emperor" — (5:29)

Cover: "Le Burg à la croix" (1850).

All Latin verses by Renaud.

Lyrics taken or adapted from Milton's "Paradise Lost" except tracks 1, 4, 7, 8 by Alex.

Concept in three parts based on Catholic masses that were meant to depict darkness to the believer and have him both afraid and happy to celebrate the resurrection of Jesus Christ at the end of these three masses. Weeping Christ taken from the little "Passion" (1509/1511).

"Les Leçons de ténèbres" is the (French) title of the three masses that were called, in Latin, "Officium Tenebrarum". So, basically, "Les Leçons de ténèbres" has the unwritten sub-title "Officium Tenebrarum (pt.1)".

Recorded & mixed by Didier Chesneau at Melody Studio, Dreux, September '94. 

Executive producer: Holy Records.

Release date : March 14th, 1994.