Favorite Requiem Settings

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With All Souls Days approaching, I have been listening to musical settings of the Requiem Mass. And, so, I was wondering what some of your favorite settings are.
 
Well, of course I love the Brahms, but that’s not really a Mass setting. Of the Mass settings, I think I love the Durufle the best - the Sanctus just sends me over the edge.

For a real over-the-top Sanctus, though, nothing beats the John Rutter. It’s a little cheap and cheesy, but still makes a big impression. It also has a lovely setting of Psalm 23.

Betsy
 
I, too, like the Rutter. It seems to have a certain embrace of reassurance sensibility, while still touching upon the truths of this mystery. I love the De Profundis from that work, especially.

On the opposite spectrum, Frank Martin’s setting is a stark almost jolting depth of what it’s all about. In a word, it is profoundly real.
 
I don’t know Frank Martin. What can you tell me about him and his Requiem?

Betsy
 
baltobetsy said:
Well, of course I love the Brahms, but that’s not really a Mass setting. Of the Mass settings, I think I love the Durufle the best - the Sanctus just sends me over the edge.

For a real over-the-top Sanctus, though, nothing beats the John Rutter. It’s a little cheap and cheesy, but still makes a big impression. It also has a lovely setting of Psalm 23.

Betsy
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My hands-down favorite part of the Rutter Requiem is the Pie Jesu. Just sends chills down my spine with that lovely, lovely melody. I also love the Sanctus, though – totally fun to sing! I’ve never heard a recording of it, though.

The “Lacrimosa” from Mozart’s Requiem is just so mournful, I love it. I may be swayed, however, by the story I heard of the music students from Kent State who spent the two days after the shootings there (1960’s) preparing the Requiem for performance. So I always associate Mozart with this student response to tragedy. The rest of his Requiem, however, leaves me pretty flat.

Thanks for asking 👍

Gertie
 
I’d have to say it’s a tie between Durufle and Faure…Frank Martin was a 20th century Swiss composer. His Requiem isn’t bad and some of my classmates (choral music major) loved it. For some reason I never got into it.
 
Martin was a Lutheran with Catholic sensibilities. He wrote several sacred works among his larger body of composition. A 20th Century composer who didn’t entirely abandon tonality, but certainly managed to incorporate elements of the new era effectively.

This from the blog www.overgrownpath.com
Chance dictated that Frank Martin was born in Switzerland in 1890. Frank Martin’s musical language, like the culture of Switzerland, steers a middle course. He assimilated elements of serialism into his own unique musical language, but retained firm links with tonality. Martin is remembered today mainly as a choral composer, and his magnificent Mass for double choir is probably his most enduring work. But there is also fine orchestral music, including a Violin Concerto and Passacaglia for String Orchestra. A recommended budget priced Decca double CD contains five of his orchestral works plus the oratorio In terra pax.
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For some reason chance has meant that a late masterpiece by Frank Martin remains unknown. His Requiem for choir, soloists, organ, harpsichord and oboe d’amore was completed in 1972. It sets the Latin Mass using a finely honed and mature version of his unique musical language. Although concert performances are rarer than the proverbial hen’s teeth there is a CD available. It is on the Musikszene Schwieitz label, and is difficult to get hold of. But if you find a copy you will realise that chance is a fine thing.
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frankmartin.org/english.html
 
I love the Brahms. The “leaves of grass” portion knocks my socks off and leaves me gasping.

I don’t know enough about Mass settings to know why it isn’t one; can someone enlighten me?

Thanks,

Ruthie
 
Faure
first reaction while watching the twin towers being struck, after praying the rosary on my knees in front of the TV, was playing a CD of this requiem. I remember it because my brother had played it on the record player the afternoon we came home from school after hearing of the Kennedy assassination and it has haunted me ever since. he played it for us the morning after our mom died, and tho because of our religious differences the 6 of us can’t pray together, this did provide some spiritual comfort.

I too recall the requiem played by the Kent State orchestra shortly after the shootings, was there with our newborn. at the time I did not know from composers. There was also a very effective musical program when the daffodil garden on the site was dedicated.

some group, possibly on MSU campus, sang Dies Irae on the radio the evening after Rev. M L King was shot, and I can hardly bear to hear that version it brings back such intense emotions from that time.
 
My parish is doing Durufle Requiem for the EF High Mass on Sunday. I have two CD’s of it. One using just the Organ and one using a Orchestra. I believe we will have the Orchestra this Sunday.

Do not know if I will be going, but I just may.
 
My choir practiced both the Durufle and the Faure Requiem for a year when we learned that our beloved Bishop Ott was diagnosed with cancer. In the final analysis we sang the Faure (in toto) at his Mass of Christian Burial. It was a fitting homage to the man.
The Faure has a certain poignancy (particularly the Agnus Dei) which is lacking in the Durufle although I like both.

I like the Rutter and Brahms. I’d love to hear the Berlioz in a concert setting. I am also fond of the Charpentier which I have on CD from the 80s but which Amazon no longer carries. (Erato label) We sang the Rex Tremendae from the Mozart on the Feast of Christ the King.
 
baltobetsy said:
Well, of course I love the Brahms, but that’s not really a Mass setting. Of the Mass settings, I think I love the Durufle the best - the Sanctus just sends me over the edge.

For a real over-the-top Sanctus, though, nothing beats the John Rutter. It’s a little cheap and cheesy, but still makes a big impression. It also has a lovely setting of Psalm 23.

Betsy
Click to expand...
We will be doing the Agnus Dei section of Rutter’s Requiem this Sunday. 👍
 
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