I have a special spot in my heart for requiems and have collected them for years. In many cases they are very personal works composed on the occasion of a friend's or loved one's death and are frequently filled with some of the most poignant music in the repertoire.
I have gathered together my collection of Requiems, so that the folks here can append any other gems I have missed.
The "Sung" - The famous and frequently performed
Mozart, W.A Requiem
Verdi, Giuseppe Requiem
Brahms, Johannes German Requiem, Op 45
Britten, Benjamin War Requiem, Op 66
Faure, Gabriel Requiem, Op 48
Durufle, Maurice Requiem, Op 9
Victoria, Tomas Luis de Requiem
Webber, Andrew Lloyd Requiem
Rutter, John Requiem
Berlioz, Hector Requiem, Op 5
The "Unsung" (I have marked with * those I especially love, but there is a great deal of beauty in many of these works)
Artyomov, Vyacheslav Requiem
Axelrod, David Requiem The Holocaust
Balada, Leonardo No-Res (Agnostic Requiem)
Balakauskas, Osvaldas Requiem in memoriam Stasys Lozoraitis
Beveridge, Thomas Yizkor Requiem
Biber, Heinrich Requiem in A Major, A.15
Requiem in F Minor
Bontempo, Joao Domingos Requiem
Borodin, Alexander Requiem (arr Leopold Stokowski)
Bruckner, Anton Requiem in D Minor (1949)
Bryars, Gavin Cadman Requiem
Campra, Andre Requiem
Catoire, Jean Extasia - A Requiem Sequence
Charpentier, Marc-Antoine Requiem Mass
Cherubini, Luigi* Requiem in C Minor
Requiem in D Minor (both were championed by Toscanini, but the D Minor is better known)
Chesnokov, Pavel Requiem No 2, Op 39
Cimarosa, Domenico Requiem pro Defunctis
Clucas, Henry Requiem
Cordans, Bartolomeo Messa da Requiem
Cornelius, Peter Requiem
Requiem 'Seele, Vergiss Sie Nicht'
Danielpour, Richard American Requiem
de Lange, Daniel Requiem (1868)
Delius, Frederick Requiem
Denisov, Edison Requiem (1980)
Desenclos, Alfred Messe de Requiem
Dittersdorf, Carl Ditters von Requiem in C Minor
Dobrogosz, Steve Requiem
Donizetti, Gaetano Messa di Requiem
Draeseke, Felix Requiem, Op 22
du Caurroy, Eustache Requiem des Rois de France
Durante, Francesco Requiem in G Minor
Dvorak, Antonin Requiem
Eybler, Joseph Requiem in C Minor
Eychenne, Marc Requiem
Finzi, Gerald Requiem da Camera
Foulds, John* A World Requiem, Op 60
Frygyes, Hidas Requiem
Fux, Johann Joseph Requiem Aeternum 'Kaiserrequiem', K 51-53
Gagneux, Renaud Requiem
Gorli, Sandro Requiem
Gossec, Francois-Joseph* Requiem (Missa Pro Defuncis)
Gounod, Charles Requiem in C Major
Gouvy, Theodor Requiem
Greif, Olivier Requiem
Grippe, Ragna Requiem for Soprano & Synthesizer
Hamerik, Asger Requiem, Op 34
Hasse, Johann Adolf* Requiem in C Major
Requiem in E flat Major
Haydn, Michael Missa 'Pro Defuncto Archiepiscopo Sigismundo' (Requiem), MH 155
Requiem in B flat Major 'Opus Ultimum'
Requiem in C Minor, MH 559
Henze, Hans Werner Requiem
Hidas, Frigyes Requiem
Hindemith, Paul Requiem 'When Lilacs Last in the Dooryard Bloom'd'
Holmboe, Vagn Requiem for Nietzsche
Hovhaness, Alan Requiem and resurrection, Op 224
Howells, Herbert Requiem
Imbrie, Andrew Requiem (1984)
Kabelevsky, Dmitri Requiem, Op 72
Kilar, Wojciech* Requiem Father Kolbe
Kokkonen, Joonas Requiem
Lachner, Franz Requiem in F Minor, Op 146
Lassus, Orlande de Requiem
Ligeti, Gyorgy Requiem
Liszt, Franz Requiem, R.488
Lobo, Duarte Requiem for six voices
Lotti, Antonio* Requiem in F Major
Luchesi, Andrea Requiem e Dies irae
Luhl, Enguerrand-Friedrich Requiem Vauban
Maciejewski, Roman Requiem
Marcello, Benedetto Requiem in the Venetian Manner
Marini, Giovanna* Requiem
Martin, Frank* Requiem
Martynov, Vladimir Requiem
Moran, Robert Requiem - Cygne du cygne
Neukomm, Sigismund Requiem
Ockeghem, Johannes Requiem
Olsson, Otto* Requiem
Palestrina, Giovanni Requiem
Penderecki, Krzysztof Polish Requiem
Perosi, Lorenzo Messa da Requiem
Pizzetti, Ildebrando Messa di Requiem
Preisner, Zbigniew Requiem for My Friend
Puccini, Giacomo Requiem
Rabassa, Pedro Requiem
Reijseger, Ernst Requiem for a Dying Planet (2006)
Rejcha, Antonin Requiem
Rheinberger, Josef Requiem in D Minor, Op 194
Richafort, Jean Requiem
Ropartz, Joseph-Guy Requiem
Rutti. Carl Requiem
Saint-Saens, Camille Requiem
Salieri, Antonio Piccolo Requiem
Schnittke, Alfred Requiem (1974-75)
Schubert, Ferdinand Requiem, Op 9
Schumann, Robert Requiem für Mignon, Op. 98b
Requiem, Op 148
Senator, Ronal Holocaust Requiem - Kaddish for Terezin
Sgambati, Giovanni Messa da Requiem
Silvestrov, Valentin Requiem for Larissa
Smith, Richard W Mountain Requiem
Stanford, Charles Villiers Requiem
Suppe, Franz von Requiem
Tabart, Pierre Requiem
Tavener, John Akhmatova Requiem
Celctic Requiem
Tomasek, Vaclav Jan Requiem in C Minor
Tomasi, Henri Requiem pour la Paix
Torres-Santos, Raymond Requiem
Tubin, Eduard Requiem for Fallen Soldiers
Vycpalek, Ladislav Czech Requiem (Death and Redemption), Op 24
Wehrli, Werne Ein Weltisches Requiem
Weill, Kurt Das Berliner Requiem
Weinberg, Mieczyslaw Requiem, Op 96
Wetz, Richard Requiem
Zelenka, Jan Requiem In C Minor
Requiem in D Minor, Z 48
To finish off, some requiem inspired works
Hanson, Howard Sym No 4 'Requiem', Op 34
Hartmann, Karl Amadeus Sym No. 1 'Essay for a Requiem'
Ritzen, Peter Chinese Requiem on a Poem of Santiago M. Ruperez Dura
Sculthorpe, Peter Requiem for Cello Alone
Riley, Terry Requiem for Adam
Kox, Hans War Triptych ii Requiem for Europe
Lokshin, Alexander Sym No.01 (Requiem) (1957)
Glass, Philip Sym No 5 'Requiem, Bardo, Nirmanakaya'
Takemitsu, Toru Requiem for Strings
Britten, Benjamin Sinfonia da Requiem, Op. 20
Stravinsky, Igor Requiem Canticles
That's a useful list. It's got works in it that are missing in the Wikipedia list of Requiems.
I did include things that were not strict requiems (such as the Kilar Father Kolbe Requiem, which is not even a choral work). And if the list were limited to things that strictly used the Requiem text or slight variants then even things like the Brahms German Requiem (as would the wonderful and virtually unknown Marini requiem) would drop off. But I tried to be as exhaustive as possible. As I said I love requiems for the very personal nature and so I include everything the composer decided to call Requiem rather than stick to some strict definition. Frequently as moving and personal as requiems, Stabat Maters are another favorite of mine - for another thread.
No special * for the Dvorak? I think it's incredible!
Yavar
QuoteNo special * for the Dvorak? I think it's incredible!
I think it's incredible too, as I do many of the pieces (although I think the Stabat Mater is the greater piece). I just quickly starred a few that struck me immediately.
I am still surprised that no one has responded with some suggested additions. Do I have recordings of every worthwhile requiem in existence? Come on folks, I was depending on this super knowledgeable group to point me to something new!
I'm sorry John, but Requiems are not to my taste... Your list looks very impressive.
In fact, I've got only one, and that is, surprise surprise, Ein Deutsches Requiem. The first half of the 2nd movement... just heavenly beautiful.
John, here are some further options that you may add to your list:
Marct-Antoine DÉSAUGIERS (1739-1793) Requiem
Sigurd Islandsmoen (1881-1964) Requiem
Oskar LINDBERG (1887-1955) Requiem Op.21
Cyrillus KREEK (1889-1962) Reqiem in C minor
Fernando LOPES-GRAÇA (1906-1994) Requiem (for the victism of fascisms in Portugal)
Xavier BENGUEREL (1931-) Requiem (in memoriam S. Espriu)
Philip LEDGER (1937-) Requiem. A thanksgiving for life
Igor KULJERIC (1938-) Croatian Glagolitic requiem
All of them are "regular" Requiems (large choral works setting the Latint text of the Mass for the Dead, except for the last which sets an ancient slavonic version) and, moreover, all of them have been recorded and issued on CD. From those still unrecorded, I have been long awaiting that cpo or another enterprising label goes for Kurt Atterberg's Requiem. Finally, for those (few) of you still keeping faith on contemporary composer, I would suggest a hearing of the stunning third movement (setting the text of the Dies Irae) of the second symphony (Morgenrot) of Piet SWERTS (1960-).
Gentile,
Thanks! Those are all new to me (both the requiems and the composers except for Lindberg and Ledger).
I too would love a recording of the Atterberg requiiem. I am a very big fan of his symphonies, concertos, orchestral suites and chamber works, but I have never heard any of his choral music and a recording of his requiem would be a welcome addition to the catalogue.
I've just come across a requiem for large orchestra, chorus and soloists from 1974 by Jean Daetwyler. I am not familiar with the composer or the work except for this entry on French wikipedia:
http://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Requiem_pour_les_temps_atomiques
My French is pretty much limited to menu selection, but I can pretty much make out the basics. I can find no recording of it though.
Here is more info about the composer:
http://www.jeandaetwyler.ch/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=18&Itemid=70
Hello John Hudock,
Just a few more Requiems, all on Cd from Records International (USA): (most would qualify for your list)
I am listing the composers, and you can access the website if interested :
P.Sculthorpe (b1929), J.H.Schmelzer (1620-80),Luciano Sumoni (b1938),Cyrillus Creek (1889-1962),S.Kuran (1955-2005),Abbe J.B.Vogler (1789-1914), L.Maeder (18th-19thc),J.S.Zelenka (1679-1745),J.A.Hasse (1699-1783),S.Moryto (b1947),B.A.Zimmermann (1918-1970),F.Gotschalk (17 ?-1809),H.D.Koppel (1908-1978),E.Zeisl (1905-59),J.Ryu (b1970), K.Lendvay (b1928), J.M.Kraus (1756-92), P.Nogradi (b1952), J.Gilles (1688-1708), P.Rimonte (1565-1627),L.Kulakowski (b1955), A.Melani (1639-1703), D.Allanbrook (1921-2003) (Symphony no2), D.Kabalevsky (1904- 87), Symphony no3 in B flat op22 Requiem for Lenin (CPO).
Also E. Reznicek (1860-1945) wrote a Requiem, and I am sure it has been recorded. (possibly by Hungaraton ?)
Marcus.
Marcus,
Thanks for those. I have recordings of the two Zelenka requiems, the Gilles, Hasse, Kabalevsky. The Gilles is a very old favorite and I love the Zelenka and Hasse as well. The Kabalevsky is a big, theatrical piece as I recall, it's been awhile since I last listened to it.
But the rest are new to me. I am a big fan of Sculthorpe's music as well as Reznicek's, so I look forward to finding those recordings. Except for Kraus and Zimmerman, the other composers you list are completely unfamiliar to me, but I look forward to searching out those recordings as well.
I recently came across the 1941 Requiem of Desire Emile Inghelbrecht (1880 - 1965), which despite being written at a nightmarish period in history is one of the most serene works I know.
And, John... you might want to sit down before you click this link: http://www.requiemsurvey.org/ (http://www.requiemsurvey.org/)
-J
--
Jim Moskowitz
The Unknown Composers Page: http://kith.org/jimmosk/TOC.html
My latest list of unusual classical CDs for auction: http://tinyurl.com/jimmosk
Thanks Jim for the Inghelbrecht and the link. 4144 requiems by 2546 composers! That will take me awhile to collect! It never ceases to amaze me what is available on the internet.
Cherubini's first setting of the Requiem Mass in C minor was much admired by Berlioz, his most difficult pupil and seems to have influenced certain passages in the choral finale of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, whose composer regarded Cherubini as the greatest of his contemporaries.
By the way, many so-called requiems have nothing to do with the liturgy of the Catholic Church, but that does not stop them from being fine choral works in their own right.
In scanning some random entries from the requiem survey Jim referenced above, I came across a Requiem for Rossini by Antonio Buzzola, whose piano sonatas Marcus recently had kind words for, and others (a composite work like the Hexamaron). Buzzola just composed the requiem and kyrie. Other composers (including Verdi) did other parts. A recording by Helmuth Rilling is available on Hannsler.
Hi John,
Good to see that the number of suggested Requiems has grown beyond expectations.
By doing a second round of search on my (increasingly chaotic) CD collection, I found a new bunch of Requiem CD's. Some of them have already been mentioned and the others can be found anyway in the "Requiem Survey" webpage. Thus, I will only comment three that I find remarkable:
Franz Xaver SÜSSMAYER (1766-1803) Requiem (this is a Requiem of his own, different from his completion of Mozart's). A curiosity.
Heinrich SUTERMEISTER (1910-1995) Missa de Requiem (You may like to have this. Sutermeister was a significant composer)
Sergei SLONIMSKY (1932) Requiem (a modern but deeply felt Requiem by a composer of the Soviet era)
I also subscribe the interest of the work by D.E. INGHELBRECHT (better known as a conductor).
Happy hearing!
Thanks again Gentile.
I have a recording of Slonimsky's preludes and fugues which I like. I am not familiar with Sutermeister's works, I'll give them a try. I'm pretty sure I have a recording of the Sussmayer requiem. I recall it's being coupled with the Salieri piccolo requiem, I'll have to check when I get home. I must've missed it when I compiled my list or maybe I just thought it was the Mozart.
John, do you know Herzogenberg's Requiem? See http://www.herzogenberg.ch/covers_cdkatalog/02.htm (http://www.herzogenberg.ch/covers_cdkatalog/02.htm)
Peter1953,
No I'm not familiar with Herzogenberg's requiem. I do know his Mass from the cpo recording. Is the requiem recording still in print, I had trouble locating a source.
Thanks.
John, view at www.herzogenberg.ch (http://www.herzogenberg.ch) and click on CDs.
Thanks Peter
Must admit the whole idea of a Requiem,by the very nature of the term,is a complete turn off to me. No disrespect intended,but I prefer something about life not death. The Berlioz is the only one I can stand,but it doesn't exactly fit here.
Hello John Hudock,
Another for your list:
Rudolf Mauersberger (1889-1971) -Dresdner Requiem - Carus CV 83116
As the name suggests, it was written in memory of the victims of the Dresden bombing in WW2.
I haven't heard it, but I am warming to the idea of buying it.
Marcus.
Thanks Marcus. I had noted that one from looking through the requiemsurvey.org site.
Hello John Hudock,
A couple of additions to the "requiem inspired" work list;
1. Bechara El-Khoury (b1957) Requiem pour orchestre op18 1980 20'15" single mvt - Naxos #8.557691
2. Peter-Jan Wagemans (b1952) Requiem for Strings, Piano & Percussion 1992 rev1994 14'01" 3 mvts Donemus Composers' Voice #CV 56
I had a quick search of the web-site, but I may have missed them. They are not in the original list of 2546.
Marcus
John, I've just listened to a radio broadcast of one movement of the Requiem Eternal Light by Howard Goodall (b. 1958). Most unusual, but certainly not unpleasant to hear. View also http://www.eternallightrequiem.com/ (http://www.eternallightrequiem.com/)
Peter,
Thanks. I am familiar with the Goodall, it's on my 'To Buy' list. Goodall is well know for composing the music for several British TV shows (most notably "The Vicar of Dibley" and "Mr. Bean"), almost all choral. He also has several recordings of his choral music both from the TV shows and other. He has also done several TV shows, as presenter, on music. I haven't seen any but would like to.
Here are two requiems I did not see in your listing:
Joseph Martin Kraus (1765-1792):
1. Requiem in D-minor (BvB 1) performed on 1 November 1775 in Buchen.
2. Requiem for Joseph II (BvB 3)
I hope this helps.
Thanks Hofrat. I could only find a recording of the first one in D Minor. Do you know if there is a recording of the second.
While looking I came across a Requiem Ebraico by Eric Zeisel paired with a Franz Waxman piece called "The Song of Terezin". It sounds like a very interesting pair of works to add to my buy list. The Zeisl (based on Psalm 92) is listed on the requiemsurvey site along with another "Requiem Concertante" which I could not find a recording of (although there is a second recording of the "Requiem Ebraico" on Bis coupled with Bloch's Baal Shem and a Kol Nidre for chorus & orch by Schoenberg.
The autograph of the Requiem for Joseph II was lost in Erfurt. We know that it existed because the historian of Erfurt wrote in his journal:
"23 March 1790--The music, a Reqiem by Kraus in Stockholm, was rehearsed."
Until someone finds the score, I doubt if it will ever be recorded.
Hello John Huddok,
While researching something else, I came across the name of a Polish composer who lived in the 18th century, who wrote a Requiem. He is Piotr Krocki ; no birth or death dates given, and I haven't been able to find anything else apart from the fact that he was involved with the Jesuits from 1730-37, he wrote sacred & choral works, including the requiem, but all are now lost. Probably useless information, but at least it might help complete your records. He is not listed in the vast requiem listings provided elsewhere. ( My source Groves )
Marcus.
I also just saw in the new release list from the current Gramophone a new requiem by David Bednall. I know nothing about the composer.
You might like the Requiem by Pedro de Escobar
http://www.medieval.org/emfaq/cds/vir45328.htm
I think John Hudock has hit on a very worthwhile and underrated area of classical and romantic music. It would be of great interest if he would consolidate and expand the accumulated information so that it becomes THE PLACE to go with a google search. It is also a way of making people aware of just how many requiems there are and to hopefully explore some of them.
I apologize if somebody else already mentioned this and I missed it, but I didn't see the Requiem of Abbe Georg Joseph Vogler, Beethoven's contemporary, listed. This has been released on both the Arte Nova and Oehms labels. Another, quite charming (!), Requiem, unfortunately no longer available, was that of Mateusz Zwierzchowski, which was once available through the Music Heritage Society, so used copies might still be floating around. Zwierzchowski comes across as a gentle soul in the music, much more interested in resurrection and forgiveness than fear and punishment.
Quote from: giles.enders on Tuesday 15 February 2011, 11:37
I think John Hudock has hit on a very worthwhile and underrated area of classical and romantic music. It would be of great interest if he would consolidate and expand the accumulated information so that it becomes THE PLACE to go with a google search. It is also a way of making people aware of just how many requiems there are and to hopefully explore some of them.
In this connection there is this site (http://www.requiemsurvey.org/).