Requiem

• Rutter’s Requiem for soprano soloist, choir, and orchestra does not follow a traditional Requiem Mass setting from Catholic liturgy but instead combines a selection of texts from the traditional Requiem Mass with some from the Book of Common Prayer. The work as a whole provides a meditation on themes of life and death.
• The composer also employs Gregorian chant at various moments throughout the piece.
• The work was first performed in the U.S. in 1985. Rutter was inspired to write a Requiem after studying a manuscript of Fauré’s Requiem, as well as a desire to honor the passing of his father in the previous year.
• The composer chose to style his Requiem after more intimate and contemplative examples, such as those by Brahms, Fauré, and Duruflé.¹

Text and translation for Rutter’s Requiem (starting on page 9)

1. John Rutter, “Requiem–composer’s note and texts” in accompanying booklet, John Rutter: Visions / Requiem performed by Alice Halstead, The Cambridge Singers, and Aurora Orchestra conducted by John Rutter, Collegium Records 139, 2016, compact disc.