Requiem (Henze)
Encyclopedia
Hans Werner Henze
composed the nine Sacred Concertos that comprise his Requiem
over the course of three years from 1991 to 1993 on commissions from the London Sinfonietta, Suntory Corporation for the NHK Philharmonic, and Westdeutschen Rundfunks Köln. The first movement, Introitus: Requiem Aeternam was commissioned by the London Sinfonietta as part of a memorial concert for Artistic Director Michael Vyner
who died on the 20th of October, 1989. In addition to Henze, the London Sinfonietta also commissioned seven other prominent composers (Luciano Berio
, Sir Harrison Birtwistle
, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
, Toru Takemitsu
, Oliver Knussen
, and Nigel Osborne
) to write works in Vyner's memory to make up the program which was performed on the 6th of May, 1990.
The Requiem consists of nine Sacred Concertos that, with one exception, carry the common movement titles of the Requiem
Mass, albeit out of order. Henze also chooses to interpolate the Ave verum corpus
in with the other movements, though in his autobiography Bohemian Fifths he never expressly states why. Even though the movements carry the traditional titles, there are no singers, and no text within the work. In his autobiography, Henze states that this choice was made to open up the scope of the Requiem and make it a "...secular, multicultural piece, an act of brotherly love that was written, 'in memoriam Michael Vyner,'whose name does duty for all the many other people in the world who have died before their time and whose sufferings and passing are mourned in my music."(471)
Publisher: Schott
Dedication: in memoriam Michael Vyner
Full Title: Requiem: Nine Sacred Concertos for Piano Solo, Trumpet Concertante and large Chamber Orchestra
Hans Werner Henze
Hans Werner Henze is a German composer of prodigious output best known for "his consistent cultivation of music for the theatre throughout his life"...
composed the nine Sacred Concertos that comprise his Requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
over the course of three years from 1991 to 1993 on commissions from the London Sinfonietta, Suntory Corporation for the NHK Philharmonic, and Westdeutschen Rundfunks Köln. The first movement, Introitus: Requiem Aeternam was commissioned by the London Sinfonietta as part of a memorial concert for Artistic Director Michael Vyner
Michael Vyner
Michael Vyner was an English arts administrator.Formerly employed by the music publishers Schott Music, he became Musical Director of the London Sinfonietta in 1972...
who died on the 20th of October, 1989. In addition to Henze, the London Sinfonietta also commissioned seven other prominent composers (Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio
Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI was an Italian composer. He is noted for his experimental work and also for his pioneering work in electronic music.-Biography:Berio was born at Oneglia Luciano Berio, Cavaliere di Gran Croce OMRI (October 24, 1925 – May 27, 2003) was an Italian...
, Sir Harrison Birtwistle
Harrison Birtwistle
Sir Harrison Paul Birtwistle CH is a British contemporary composer.-Life:Birtwistle was born in Accrington, a mill town in Lancashire some 20 miles north of Manchester. His interest in music was encouraged by his mother, who bought him a clarinet when he was seven, and arranged for him to have...
, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies
Peter Maxwell Davies
Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, CBE is an English composer and conductor and is currently Master of the Queen's Music.-Biography:...
, Toru Takemitsu
Toru Takemitsu
was a Japanese composer and writer on aesthetics and music theory. Largely self-taught, Takemitsu possessed consummate skill in the subtle manipulation of instrumental and orchestral timbre...
, Oliver Knussen
Oliver Knussen
Oliver Knussen CBE is a British composer and conductor.-Biography:Oliver Knussen was born in Glasgow, Scotland. His father, Stuart Knussen, was principal double bass of the London Symphony Orchestra. Oliver Knussen studied composition with John Lambert, between 1963 and 1969 and also received...
, and Nigel Osborne
Nigel Osborne
Nigel Osborne MBE, FRCM is a British composer.He serves as Reid Professor of music at the University of Edinburgh and has been teaching at the Hochschule für Musik, Theater und Medien Hannover.He studied composition with Kenneth Leighton ,...
) to write works in Vyner's memory to make up the program which was performed on the 6th of May, 1990.
The Requiem consists of nine Sacred Concertos that, with one exception, carry the common movement titles of the Requiem
Requiem
A Requiem or Requiem Mass, also known as Mass for the dead or Mass of the dead , is a Mass celebrated for the repose of the soul or souls of one or more deceased persons, using a particular form of the Roman Missal...
Mass, albeit out of order. Henze also chooses to interpolate the Ave verum corpus
Ave verum Corpus
Ave verum corpus is a short Eucharistic hymn that has been set to music by various composers. It dates from the 14th century and has been attributed to Popes Innocent III, Innocent IV and Innocent VI....
in with the other movements, though in his autobiography Bohemian Fifths he never expressly states why. Even though the movements carry the traditional titles, there are no singers, and no text within the work. In his autobiography, Henze states that this choice was made to open up the scope of the Requiem and make it a "...secular, multicultural piece, an act of brotherly love that was written, 'in memoriam Michael Vyner,'whose name does duty for all the many other people in the world who have died before their time and whose sufferings and passing are mourned in my music."(471)
Fact sheet
Length: Approx. 70 MinutesPublisher: Schott
Dedication: in memoriam Michael Vyner
Full Title: Requiem: Nine Sacred Concertos for Piano Solo, Trumpet Concertante and large Chamber Orchestra
First performances of individual movements
- Introitus: May 6, 1990, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London Sinfonietta
- Dies IraeDies IraeDies Irae is a thirteenth century Latin hymn thought to be written by Thomas of Celano . It is a medieval Latin poem characterized by its accentual stress and its rhymed lines. The metre is trochaic...
: December 11, 1991, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, London Sinfonietta - Ave Verum CorpusAve verum CorpusAve verum corpus is a short Eucharistic hymn that has been set to music by various composers. It dates from the 14th century and has been attributed to Popes Innocent III, Innocent IV and Innocent VI....
: Premiered with Dies Irae and Lux Aeterna - Lux AeternaLux AeternaLux Aeterna is an album by Dave Fitzgerald. Released in 1997.This is the second solo album from flute and saxophone player Dave Fitzgerald who was a founding member of Iona. Recorded partly in the studio, and partly in the St...
: Premiered with Dies Irae and Ave Verum Corpus - Rex Tremendae: November 26, 1992, Suntory Hall, Tokyo, NHK Symphony Orchestra
- Agnus Dei: January 14, 1991, BBC Henze Festival, Barbican Centre, London, Parnassus Ensemble
- Tuba Mirum: February 24, 1993, Philharmonic Hall, Cologne, Ensemble Modern
- LacrimosaLacrimosaLacrimosa is a duo led by German Tilo Wolff, the main composer, and Finnish Anne Nurmi, currently based in Switzerland, but originally from Germany...
: Premiered with Rex Tremendae and Sanctus - SanctusSanctusThe Sanctus is a hymn from Christian liturgy, forming part of the Order of Mass. In Western Christianity, the Sanctus is sung as the final words of the Preface of the Eucharistic Prayer, the prayer of consecration of the bread and wine...
: Premiered with Rex Tremendae and Lacrimosa
Instrumentation
- Trumpet Concertante in C
- Piano Solo
- 2 Flutes (doubling piccolo and alto flute)
- 1 Oboe
- 1 English Horn
- 1 Bb Clarinet (Doubling Eb)
- 1 Bb Bass Clarinet (Doubling Bb Contrabass Clarinet)
- 1 Soprano Saxophone (Doubling Eb Alto and Eb Baritone Sax)
- 1 Bassoon
- 2 Horns in F
- 2 Trumpets in C
- 2 Bass Trumpets in C (Tuba Mirum only)
- 1 Tenor Trombone
- 1 Bass Trombone (Doubling Contrabass Trombone)
- Timpani
- Harp
- Celesta
- 4 Violins
- 3 Violas
- 3 Cellos
- 1 Double Bass
- Percussion (3 Players):
- Triangle
- 3 Suspended Cymbals
- Cymbals (pair)
- 3 Tamtams
- Thunder Sheet
- Woodblock
- Temple Blocks
- Tambourine
- Snare Drum
- 3 Tomtoms
- String Drum
- Bass Drum with Cymbal
- Matraca