Requiem (Henze)

Requiem is an instrumental musical composition by Hans Werner Henze, premiered in Cologne on 24 February 1993. It consists of nine sacred concertos for piano solo, trumpet and large chamber orchestra. About this piece, the composer has the following comments.

These nine instrumental pieces are concerned with the human fears and problems of our time, with illness and death, love and loneliness, and in particular with the character of Michael Vyner, an extremely lively and passionate man, his life and his death, and my grief at his loss which stands for the loss of so many others who have also tragically departed from our world. The spirit of this music can be explained by such facts and by our time, by which it seems to me to be strongly influenced, by its horrors and passions, its beauty and dynamics. The movements of the Requiem can be played separately or in any desired combination. Hans Werner Henze

Requiem
Nine Sacred Concertos for Piano Solo, Trumpet Concertante and large Chamber Orchestra
by Hans Werner Henze
The composer in 1960
Based on	Requiem mass
Dedication	in memoriam Michael Vyner
Performed	6 May 1990 (1990-05-06): London (Part 1)
Duration	70 minutes
Movements	9

Background

Hans Werner Henze composed the nine Sacred Concertos that comprise his Requiem over the course of three years from 1991 to 1993 on commissions from the London Sinfonietta, Suntory Corporation for the NHK Philharmonic, and Westdeutscher Rundfunk, Cologne. The first movement, Introitus: Requiem Aeternam was commissioned by the London Sinfonietta as part of a memorial concert for Artistic Director Michael Vyner who died on 20 October 1989. In addition to Henze, the London Sinfonietta also commissioned seven other prominent composers (Luciano Berio, Sir Harrison Birtwistle, Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, Toru Takemitsu, Oliver Knussen, and Nigel Osborne) to write works in Vyner's memory to make up the program which was performed on the 6 May 1990.

Structure

Henze's Requiem consists of nine sacred concertos that carry the common titles of the requiem mass in 8 out of 9 movements, albeit out of order. The one exception is the Ave verum corpus, though in his autobiography Bohemian Fifths he never expressly states why. Even though the movements carry the traditional titles, there are no singers, and no text within the work. In his autobiography, Henze states that this choice was made to open up the scope of the Requiem and make it a "...secular, multicultural piece, an act of brotherly love that was written, 'in memoriam Michael Vyner,' whose name does duty for all the many other people in the world who have died before their time and whose sufferings and passing are mourned in my music."(471)

The nine movements are listed in the order in the published score below, although it was officially stated that "movements can also be played in any desired combination." The total duration of the piece is approximately 70 minutes, with approximate playing time for each movement indicated.

1. Introitus (4½′)
2. Dies irae (6½′)
3. Ave verum corpus (8′)
4. Lux aeterna (9′)
5. Rex tremendae (8′)
6. Agnus Dei (8½′)
7. Tuba mirum (7½′)
8. Lacrimosa (7½′)
9. Sanctus (8½′)

Fact sheet

Length: Approx. 70 Minutes
Publisher: Schott
Dedication: in memoriam Michael Vyner
Full Title: Requiem: Nine Sacred Concertos for Piano Solo, Trumpet Concertante and large Chamber Orchestra

First complete performance

February 24, 1993, Philharmonic Hall, Cologne Ensemble Modern

First performances of individual movements

• Introitus: May 6, 1990, Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, London Sinfonietta
• Dies Irae: December 11, 1991, Queen Elizabeth Hall, London, London Sinfonietta
• Ave Verum Corpus: Premiered with Dies Irae and Lux Aeterna
• Lux Aeterna: Premiered with Dies Irae and Ave Verum Corpus
• Rex Tremendae: November 26, 1992, Suntory Hall, Tokyo, NHK Symphony Orchestra
• Agnus Dei: January 14, 1991, BBC Henze Festival, Barbican Centre, London, Parnassus Ensemble
• Tuba Mirum: February 24, 1993, Philharmonic Hall, Cologne, Ensemble Modern
• Lacrimosa: Premiered with Rex Tremendae and Sanctus
• Sanctus: Premiered with Rex Tremendae and Lacrimosa

Instrumentation

• Trumpet Concertante in C
• Piano Solo
• 2 Flutes (doubling piccolo and alto flute)
• 1 Oboe
• 1 English Horn
• 1 B♭ Clarinet (Doubling E♭)
• 1 B♭ Bass Clarinet (Doubling B♭ Contrabass Clarinet)
• 1 Soprano Saxophone (Doubling E♭ Alto and E♭ Baritone Sax)
• 1 Bassoon
• 2 Horns in F
• 2 Trumpets in C
• 2 Bass Trumpets in C (Tuba Mirum only)
• 1 Tenor Trombone
• 1 Bass Trombone (Doubling Contrabass Trombone)
• Timpani
• Harp
• Celesta
• 4 Violins
• 3 Violas
• 3 Cellos
• 1 Double Bass
• Percussion (3 Players):
  • Triangle
  • 3 Suspended Cymbals
  • Cymbals (pair)
  • 3 Tamtams
  • Thunder sheet
  • Woodblock
  • Temple Blocks
  • Tambourine
  • Snare Drum
  • 3 Tomtoms
  • String Drum
  • Bass Drum with Cymbal
  • Matraca

Bibliography

• Henze, Hans Werner. Musik und Politik: Schriften und Gespräche 1955–1975, ed. J. Brockmeier (Munich, 1976, enlarged 2/1984; Eng. trans., 1982) [incl. Essays, 1964]
• Henze, Hans Werner. Reiselieder mit böhmischen Quinten: autobiographische Mitteilungen. 1926–1995 (Frankfurt, 1996; Eng. trans., 1998)
• Henze, Hans Werner. Ein Werkverzeichnis. 1946–1996 Schott, Mainz, 1996.
• Palmer-Fuchsel, Virginia: Hans Werner Henze, Grove Music Online ed. L. Macy