Froxfield Choir

John Rutter: Requiem (1985)

This requiem is not a setting of the Catholic mass liturgy, but a selection of texts associated with the theme - some from the Requiem Mass, others from the 1662 Book of Common Prayer. Over all, the seven movements meditate upon life and death in an arch like form, beginning and ending lyrically, passing through quiet meditative passages and reaching an exultant peak of praise in the centre with the Sanctus. The work exists in two forms, one with full orchestral accompaniment, the second for organ and six instruments, which is the version we will perform. Musically, individual passages may suggest echoes of many other works, yet taken as a whole the work is strongly structured and unique.

The opening movement is the Introit and Kyrie from the Tridentine Requiem Mass, a lyrical prayer for rest on behalf of all humanity. The second movement, Out of the Deep, uses the text of Psalm 130, a psalm commonly used at Anglican funerals. It contains very dark tones as the lower voices, especially, consider the nature of trust in the Lord. The third movement is the Pie Jesu, from the Dies Irae of the Requiem Mass, the personal nature of the prayer to Christ emphasised by it being principally sung by the soprano soloist with the full choir only adding an occasional echo of the sentiments. The Sanctus forms the centre of the piece, a brightly orchestrated and triumphant affirmation of divine glory and the splendour of God in the heavens. The Agnus Dei returns to a more meditative and personal mood. Like the Pie Jesu this is a personal prayer to Christ, the single line of Latin text from the Requiem Mass being complemented by English texts from the Anglican Burial Service, posing and answering the question of where to seek for succour in grief. The sixth movement sets the text of Psalm 23, The Lord is my Shepherd. This matches Out of the Deep, in that the psalm is commonly used at Anglican Funerals, yet the tone is far more peaceful, as the questioner’s doubts begin to be laid to rest. The final movement, Lux aeterna, is again a prayer on behalf of all humanity, opening with an English text from the Burial Service (slightly altered), as a voice from heaven - represented by the soprano soloist - answers the questions of humanity. The piece ends in the gentle confidence of the Latin Lux aeterna.

Requiem aeternam

Requiem aeternam 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.

Kyrie, eleison!
Christe, eleison!
Kyrie, eleison!

Out of the deep

Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord:
Lord, hear my voice.
O let thine ears consider well: the voice of my complaint.
If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss: O Lord, who may abide it?
For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared.
I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him: in his word is my trust.
My soul fleeth unto the Lord:
Before the morning watch,
I say, before the morning watch.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy:
And with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel: from all his sins.

Pie Jesu

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

Agnus Dei

Agnus Dei, qui tollis pecatta mundi:
dona eis requiem.

Man that us born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery.
He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower;
He fleeth as it were a shadow.

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

In the midst of life, we are in death:
Of whom may we seek for succour?

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

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord:
He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

The lord is my shepherd

The lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
He shall convert my soul: and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: thou hast anointed my head with oil,
And my cup shall be full.
But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lux aeterna

I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,
for they rest from their labours:
even so saith the Spirit.

Lux aeterna luceat eis Domine:
Cum sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.
Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Requiem aeternam

Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,
And may light eternal shine upon them.

It is fitting that a hymn should be raised unto Thee in Sion
And a vow paid to Thee in Jerusalem:
Give ear to my prayer, O Lord,
Unto Thee all flesh shall come at last.

Lord, have mercy!
Christ, have mercy!
Lord, have mercy!

Out of the deep

Out of the deep have I called unto thee, O Lord:
Lord, hear my voice.
O let thine ears consider well: the voice of my complaint.
If thou, Lord, wilt be extreme to mark what is done amiss: O Lord, who may abide it?
For there is mercy with thee: therefore shalt thou be feared.
I look for the Lord; my soul doth wait for him: in his word is my trust.
My soul fleeth unto the Lord:
Before the morning watch,
I say, before the morning watch.
O Israel, trust in the Lord, for with the Lord there is mercy:
And with him is plenteous redemption.
And he shall redeem Israel: from all his sins.

Pie Jesu

Blessed Lord Jesus, grant them rest,
Blessed Lord Jesus, grant them rest,
Blessed Lord Jesus, grant them eternal rest.

Agnus Dei

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant them rest.

Man that us born of a woman hath but a short time to live, and is full of misery.
He cometh up, and is cut down like a flower;
He fleeth as it were a shadow.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
grant them rest.

In the midst of life, we are in death:
Of whom may we seek for succour?

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world,
Grant them rest.

I am the resurrection and the life, saith the Lord:
He that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
And whosoever liveth and believeth in me shall never die.

The lord is my shepherd

The lord is my shepherd: therefore can I lack nothing.
He shall feed me in a green pasture: and lead me forth beside the waters of comfort.
He shall convert my soul: and bring me forth in the paths of righteousness, for his Name's sake.
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;
Thy rod and thy staff comfort me.
Thou shalt prepare a table before me against them that trouble me: thou hast anointed my head with oil,
And my cup shall be full.
But thy loving-kindness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life: and I will dwell in the house of the Lord for ever.

Lux aeterna

I heard a voice from heaven saying unto me.
Blessed are the dead who die in the Lord,
For they rest from their labours:
Even so saith the Spirit.

Let eternal light shine upon them, O Lord:
With Thy saints for ever, for thou art merciful.
Grant them eternal rest, O Lord,
And may light perpetual shine on them.