1947: Duruflé Requiem

The Requiem, Op. 9, is a 1947 (revised 1961) setting of the Latin Requiem by Maurice Duruflé for a solo voice, mixed choir, and organ, or orchestra with organ. The thematic material is mostly taken from the Mass for the Dead in Gregorian chant.

I. Introit (Requiem aeternam)

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine:
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem:
exaudi orationem meam,
ad te omnis caro veniet.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine:
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

II. Kyrie eleison

Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.

III. Offertory (Domine Jesu Christe), Choir & baritone solo

Domine Iesu Christe, Rex gloriæ,
libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum
de pœnis inferni et de profundo lacu:
libera eas de ore leonis,
ne absorbeat eas tartarus,
ne cadant in obscurum:
sed signifer sanctus Michael
repræsentet eas in lucem sanctam:
Quam olim Abrahæ promisisti, et semini eius.

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine,
laudis offerimus:
tu suscipe pro animabus illis,
quarum hodie memoriam facimus:
fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam.
Quam olim Abrahæ promisisti, et semini eius.

IV. Sanctus and Benedictus

Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus
Dominus Deus Sabaoth.
Pleni sunt cæli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
Hosanna in excelsis.

V. Pie Jesu, Mezzo-soprano solo, optional solo cello

Pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem.
Dona eis requiem sempiternam.

VI. Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona eis requiem.
Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona eis requiem sempiternam.

VII. Communion (Lux aeterna)

Lux æterna luceat eis, Domine:
Cum Sanctis tuis in æternum:
quia pius es.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine:
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Cum Sanctis tuis in æternum:
quia pius es.

VIII. Libera me, Choir & baritone solo

Libera me, Domine, de morte æterna, in die illa tremenda:
Quando cæli movendi sunt et terra:
Dum veneris iudicare sæculum per ignem.
Tremens factus sum ego, et timeo, dum discussio venerit, atque ventura ira.
Quando cæli movendi sunt et terra.
Dies illa, dies iræ, calamitatis et miseriæ, dies magna et amara valde.
Dum veneris iudicare sæculum per ignem.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis.

IX. In paradisum

In paradisum deducant te Angeli:
in tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres,
et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.
Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere æternam habeas requiem.

Instruments:

  • SATB choir
  • brief mezzo-soprano and baritone solos.
  • 3 flutes (2nd and 3rd doubling piccolo), 2 oboes (2nd doubling 2nd English horn), English horn, 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, 2 bassoons,
  • 4 French horns, 3 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba
  • timpani, cymbals, bass drum, tamtam
  • celesta, harp, organ
  • strings

1 thought on “1947: Duruflé Requiem”

  1. I have two headsets – one for everyday use and it “enhances” a bit adding some bass probably – and the one for checking recordings which gives back sound “exactly”. I switched to the better (2nd) headset because any added bass or reverb destroys the subtlety of sound. Enjoyable! I especially like the Pie Jesu.

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