Requiem

Requiem (2012) was commissioned by Amemptos Music for a CD recording (release date tbc). It is written for SSAATTBB choir and organ, with SATB soloists, and lasts about 50 minutes.

The Requiem is a full liturgical Requiem in English, with all words drawn from the King James Bible and the Book of Common Prayer, suitable for liturgical use in most Christian denominations, or to form half of a concert (duration is 45 minutes). Forces required: SSAATTBB choir, organ, SATB soloists, and optional countertenor or second alto solo. It deals with the clash between the New Testament and Old Testament views of life after death, moving from a naive certainty of life to a prayerful hope and acceptance.

The Missa Brevis (Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus, Agnus Dei) can be performed separately with SSAATTBB choir and organ only (no soloists needed).

A PDF of the full score (to print your own copies) is £150 – single copies are £10 each including binding. You can also order individual movements if you prefer – the four movements that make up the Missa Brevis are £40 for a PDF, or £3 per copy (23 pages, extra charge for bound copies).

Several movements are also suitable for individual performance as anthems or introits.

Scores of selected movements

Missa Brevis – includes “Lord, have mercy”, “Sanctus & Hosanna”, “Benedictus & Hosanna” and “O Lamb Of God”. For SATB choir (with divisi up to SSAATTBB) and organ. Some added second chords but not too difficult. PDF £40, single copies £3.

I Heard A Voice From Heaven – for bass/baritone soloist, SATB choir (no divisi needed) and organ. Choir parts are mostly doubled by organ and quite easy; soloist needs a range of bottom F# to top E. PDF £25, single copies £2.

Rest Eternal / O Saviour Of The World – for SATB choir (no divisi) and optional organ. Requires accurate tuning of semitones for ATB parts. PDF £25, single copies £2.

Thou Knowest, Lord – for SSAA choir, no further divisi (ideally this could be sung by a choir of unbroken voices, girls and/or boy trebles, but would also suit a female voice choir or four good soloists). Quite difficult unaccompanied, but could be performed with organ accompaniment. PDF £25, single copies £2.

If you would like to see a copy of the full score, please email me – chris@hutchingsmusic.co.uk – and I can post or email you a copy.

Recordings

You can listen to individual movements here. I recommend:

Sanctus and Benedictus – SSAATTBB and organ. The Requiem contains a Kyrie, Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei that can be performed separately as a Missa Brevis – no soloists are required for the Missa Brevis.

Rest Eternal – SATB with optional organ, could stand alone as an anthem.

Thou Knowest, Lord – SSAA unaccompanied, could also stand alone as an anthem. This has also been performed by Libricini ladies’ choir, Norfolk, in 2016.

The first performance was in October 2012, by the University of Glasgow Chapel Choir, conducted by James Grossmith and with Andrew Forbes on organ. You can listen to the whole performance on SoundCloud. A full recording will be available on the Amemptos label at a future date.

Libretto

Full libretto for Requiem (words selected by Chris Hutchings and Canon Richard Orchard)