Fauré completed his Requiem - his only major work based on a religious text - in 1887 at the age of 42. There has been much speculation about whose death inspired the work, but Fauré later said of the reason for its composition: "I didn't compose it for anyone... just for pleasure, if you'll allow me to say so!" The first version was for small forces and chamber orchestra, but Faure expanded the forces to a larger orchestra, including winds. The premiere of this new version took place in 1900 on the occasion of the Paris World Fair before an audience of about 5000. The Requiem was also played at Fauré's funeral in 1924.
As mentioned above, Fauré's Requiem departs from the traditional Requiem Mass in several ways. Contrary to the traditional order of the Mass, and especially to the compositions of Hector Berlioz and Giuseppe Verdi, Fauré refrained from dramatizing the Dies irae and confined himself to setting its final stanza, the Pie Jesu. On the other hand, he added the In paradisum from the Exequia, which is traditionally sung when the body is taken from the church to the cemetery. Overall, Fauré was concerned to paint a peaceful picture of death. In many passages, the minor tones of the chorus and orchestra glide into atmospheric major chords, providing a comforting tone. "Everything I could muster in terms of religion I put into the Requiem, which, moreover, dominates the piece from beginning to end with a great human sense of belief in eternal rest.
The requiem consists of seven movements:
Introitus et Kyrie (d-minor)
Offertory (b minor)
Sanctus (E-flat major)
Pie Jesu (B-flat major)
Agnus Dei and Lux Aeterna (F major)
Libera Me (d-minor)
In Paradisum (D major)
"The requiem is as gentle as myself."
Listen to: Radio Filharmonisch Orkest & Groot Omroepkoor conducted by James Gaffigan, with Laurence Guillod [soprano] and Thomas Tatzl [baritone] in a registration by the Dutch television.
Choral Masterworks