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26 January 2007

In 1603, Tomás Luis de Victoria penned a Requiem Mass featuring traditional Gregorian chants from the Graduale Romanum. In 1947, Maurice Duruflé based a Requiem Mass on the same set of chants.[More:]

Both are beautiful in their own way, with well-judged builds and tension, and haunting harmonies.

But it's especially interesting to compare how the two composers, three centuries separated, incorporate these chants into music that is very much of their own time.

The two opening movements from Victoria's Requiem:
Introit, Kyrie
And the corresponding movements from Duruflé's:
Introit, Kyrie

In particular, listen for the 'Requiem aeternam' melody at the start of both Introits, and the 'Te decet hymnus Deus in Sion' at 2:18 in the Victoria and at 1:27 in the Duruflé. In the Victoria, the chant is sung in isolation by the full choir, before they launch into unaccompanied Renaissance polyphony. In the Duruflé, each melody is sung by half the choir over a lush organ harmony.

Then, the 'Kyrie eleison' chant used in Victoria's Kyrie is given to each voice in turn in Duruflé's version. Even the organ plays it very subtly at a sixth of the speed starting at 0:30 (a very clever bit of musical trickery), and the whole thing gradually builds up to a glorious climax.

I confess I'm not sure if this kind of post is appropriate here, but I really wanted to share these. They're easily two of my favourite pieces of music, and I get a geeky thrill out of the connections they have, which I thought the crowd here might appreciate.
Oh man, thanks for sharing these!!
posted by CitrusFreak12 26 January | 22:22
Thanks. Way cool.
posted by arse_hat 26 January | 22:26
thank you chrismear, very appropriate music right now.
posted by carmina 26 January | 22:59
When I was very young, my parents took my sisters and I to symphony performances at the local college. At the time all I remember was being really hot and thinking it lasted a long time. It wasn't until I was into my 30's that I began to appreciate the music. I really like Gregorian style music - it's a great way to wind down and end the day. Thanks for sharing, chrismear.
posted by chewatadistance 27 January | 08:54
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