Nunes Garcia: Requiem (1816)

[Alan Howe]

By chance I caught an excerpt from this work last Saturday on BBC Radio 3 - and it's magnificent, just 35:43 long, in a powerful early romantic idiom, perhaps reminiscent of Mozart and even Kozlovsky, despite its relative concision.
The problem was how to get hold of the one recording, conducted by Paul Freeman in Helsinki in 1975. I discovered that it's included in a 10-CD 'Black Composers Series' box on Sony; it's also available as a download here:
https://www.prestomusic.com/classical/products/8538244--black-composer-series-vol-5-jose-mauricio-nunes-garcia-requiem-mass
All I can say is: try it. It's a knockout!

[terry martyn]

I have the very reasonably priced boxed set,and I entirely agree with you - this is a stunning work. And there are other gems - the Joseph Bologne CD ( of "Chevalier" fame, but outside our remit) and the Violin Concerto by Joseph White,performed by the great Aaron Rosand,who had it in his repertoire.  I was playing that concerto when a friend from Dominica commented that it was a work that features in the background of a scene from Porgy and Bess. I have no idea if that was true or not,but I rate it highly,on a par,say,with the Wieniawski First.

[Mark Thomas]

Thanks for the recommendation, chaps. The whole work can be heard on YouTube here. I've only sampled it there so far, but it does sound something special.

[Alan Howe]

I caught it on Jools Holland's programme broadcast at 12 noon Saturday on BBC Radio 3 which features a mixture of classical and jazz.

[Mark Thomas]

That's usually a listen for me too, but I missed it this time.

[terry martyn]

Nunes Garcia was held in high esteem by the Portuguese Prince Regent ,after the court's arrival in Brazil in 1807. The royal family, headed by the mad queen Maria I, had been rescued  from the French invasion by the brilliant and capricious Admiral Sir Sidney Smith,who proceeded to have an affair with the Regent's wife.

In 1816,Maria died,and the Requiem was composed in her memory.