Alfred Schnittke : Requiem
Sheet Music

SKU: NX.DUX1407

By Agnieszka Kuk, Bozena Stasiowska-Chrobak, Dominik Sutowicz, Katarzyna Oles-Blacha, Monika Korybalska, Olga Maroszek, The Choir of the Faculty of Music of the University of Rzeszow, and The Instrumental Ensemble of the Artur Malawski Philharmonic in Rzeszow. By Alfred Schnittke. Classical. CD. Dux Records #DUX1407. Published by Dux Records (NX.DUX1407).

The tradition of composing a funeral mass dates back to the times of the late Middle Ages, but it was brought to artistic perfection by later composers. Alfred Schnittke initially wore the intention of writing a small instrumental Requiem, which was to be one of the parts of the Piano Quintet. Eventually, however, he rejected this idea and created a fourteen-part Requiem. The work is expressive and full of dramatic contrasts. The instrumental parts of electric guitars of a set of drums surprisingly refer to the composer's polistylist interests. Composed in the same stream, the three religious songs refer to Orthodox church music, introducing a mood of contemplative reflection and prayer reverie.