Maurice Duruflé Requiem

Maurice Duruflé’s beautiful Requiem has been a beloved item on the repertoire of St. Jacob’s Chamber Choir throughout the years. As early as 1990, the choir performed the work with Gary Graden as the conductor and Mattias Wager at the organ. The collaboration resulted in a critically acclaimed CD recording on the Bis Records label in 1992.

Requiem, Op. 9, was premiered in 1947 at the  church St. Étienne-du-Mont in Paris, where Maurice Duruflé faithfully served as an organist and composer from the age of 28 until the end of his life. The Mass, consisting of nine movements, is dedicated to the composer’s father and is undoubtedly Duruflé’s most frequently performed piece. Like Fauré, Duruflé places greater emphasis on hope and reconciliation than the theme of Judgment day, which is otherwise customary in many requiems.

Having studied choral singing at the cathedral school in Rouen during his early years, Duruflé was strongly influenced by Gregorian melodies and modal harmonies. In his Requiem, he employed both precise Gregorian themes and sought to capture the characteristic style of Gregorian chant. Similar to all his music, the Requiem appears as formally balanced with rich harmony, virtuosity, and refined instrumentation.

The four motets, also based on Gregorian melodies, were composed in 1960.

Repertoire
Maurice Duruflé
Requiem, Op. 9
Four Motets on Gregorian Themes, Op. 10
Ubi Caritas et Amor – Tota Pulchra es – Tu es Petrus – Tantum Ergo

St. Jacob’s Chamber Choir
Lovisa Huledal mezzo-soprano
Arvid Eriksson baritone
Filip Graden cello
Mattias Wager organ
Gary Graden conductor

Age limit: 6+
Ticket price: 100, 180, 220, 290 kr, discounts available for seniors and kids, youth and students
No big bags, backpacks or trolleys are allowed into the church

Tickets are released on the 7th of September at noon.