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Details
St Katharine Cree
86 Leadenhall Street
City of London
London
EC3A 3BP
England
Programme
Gabriel Fauré – Requiem, Op.48 (1883)
Maurice Duruflé – Requiem, Op.9
Performers
David Young – Conductor
Cardiff Polyphonic Choir
Other concerts in this Series (+)
Programme Note
These two lovely settings of the requiem mass by French composers are separated by nearly sixty years.
Gabriel Faurés famous composition was first heard in Paris in 1888, and soon became one of his best-known works. Maurice Duruflés less well-known but highly moving setting was also premiered in the French capital,
in 1947. It is widely regarded as his greatest work.Both composers were renowned organists in Paris, Fauré at the church of La Madeleine and Duruflé at Sainte-Étienne-du-Mont. We perform the two works accompanied on the organ, played by Cardiffs David GeoffreyThomas.Duruflés composition makes extensive use of thematic material drawn from Gregorian chant. This, combinedwith a choice of texts omitting the usual Dies irae, make it a profoundly calm and reflective work.
This concert provides an opportunity to compare how two master musicians approach setting the familiarLatin words and the emotions of the different movements of the requiem mass – which include the Kyrie,Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and renowned Pie Jesu.
