Join us for a première honoring loved ones with Duruflé’s beautiful Requiem newly orchestrated for Organ and Orchestra !

A concert for the Faithful Departed – Duruflé Requiem

In May 1940 Germany invaded France. A year later, the Vichy Regime commissioned Maurice Duruflé, the French composer, organist, musicologist, and teacher, to compose a new work. He was 38. Commissioning a new piece of music was a gesture by the Pro-Nazi Vichy government to try and gain favour with the public.

The original commission was to compose a symphonic poem but as the war continued, Duruflé decided to compose a Requiem instead. The prevailing mood is one of prayer, tenderness and hope, with moments of immense power arising almost naturally from the underlying chant.

His compositional process was slow. Always questioning what he had written, and rewriting until his perfectionist brain allowed him to move on. This perfectionism and self-doubt resulted in a Requiem that reflects deep emotional and spiritual themes, no doubt also influenced by the horrors of the war. The reference to Gregorian chant showcases his background and training in liturgical music.

The original orchestration is for a very large orchestra. Most amateur choral societies can only perform the Requiem in an edition with organ, solo cello and harp. Our performance today features a première of a new orchestration using a classical size orchestra. The aim is to keep the original dramatic intensity and colours while allowing the organ and harp to feature as Duruflé intended.

Description supplied by the event organiser.