The lighter side of life – staying in touch with friends and family by celebrating the ordinary.
Your comments – Verdi’s Requiem
Fast feedback this morning on my Verdi’s Requiem post, which I did not anticipate! Apparently I’m not the only one in the family who loves dramatic music.
Laura sent a “dramatic song” recommendation, Blood//Water by Grandson. Oh yeah, that’s an intense song. I immediately added that to one of my playlists. The internet says it’s, “Alternative rock rap rock alternative hip hop political hip hop trap EDM”. So okay. Is it just me, or are our music genre designations getting dated and splintered to the point of uselessness? It’s a good song though.
Steven sent this interesting note:
“Dad often tells the “Boom Boom Record” story – it made an impression on him, too.
I’m also a big fan of dramatic music, as I’m sure you know, and requiems in particular. I also got to hear the Verdi Requiem in person at one point – maybe 15 years ago, I don’t quite remember – and it was quite an experience. I love the whole Dies Irae sequence and also the Libera Me at the end; I feel like there is a very interesting interplay between the threats of judgement and the promises of salvation, and also an connected psychological interplay between the individual person’s pleas for mercy (often represented by the soloist) and the terrifying events happening (sung by the whole choir).
The Rex Tremendae (part of the Dies Irae) is a good example of that.
Words are: Rex tremendae majestatis Qui salvandos, salvis gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis
Which is to say: King of dreadful majesty Who the redeemed freely saves Save me, fount of pity
The choir thunders “Rex tremendae…” then whispers “Qui salvandos…” then the soloist takes up the “Salva me…” but then the choir interrupts with “Rex tremendae” again, and then they intertwine; the choir proclaiming God’s dreadful majesty at the exact same time that the soloist appeals to that same God’s overflowing pity. “
Obviously Steven knows a lot more about music than I do. Then I got an amazing story from our dad’s half-sister, Susy. Apparently she is not only familiar with Verdi’s Requiem but she actually sang in the chorus once in Bordeaux! Susy wrote:
“I just read your Turning 51 post about going to see and hear Verdi’s Requiem. I don’t remember if I told you this, but I was part of the chorus in Bordeaux, France in a performance in early 1972.
A couple of my fellow students (from the University of California Education Abroad Program–100 students from all 9 campuses would be chosen for the France program, then in Bordeaux) decided to join the city chorale group. The score was in Latin, we had a Greek conductor, and the pianist was Russian–everything was said in French!
The pianist was amazing–our introduction to her was the Dies Irae where the chorus is really spectacular and the contra temps with the drums–she played it all on piano. I was mesmerized. SO thrilling in rehearsal. And I especially loved singing the Sanctus, too. We had never heard the soloist parts until our rehearsal.
Finally we were to perform it at the Bordeaux Opera House (the one in Paris is based on this one) with the orchestra and the soloists. We had one full rehearsal before the night of the performance. The chorale was situated on risers behind the orchestra, the sopranos behind the kettle drums.
It was one of the most amazing nights I’ve ever experienced. The adrenaline was just on fire. You cannot imagine the thrill it was to do the Dies Irae with the kettle drums! It gives me goosebumps just remembering it.
I’m so glad you were able to hear a live performance. It truly is a phenomenal piece of music.
All I can say to that is wow!!!! What an experience.
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