Requiem For The Living – HMB265

In its essence, a requiem is a plea for rest—typically for the departed. “Requiem for the Living” by Dan Forrest, on the other hand, uses its five movements to tell a story that is equally as much for the living and their own struggle with suffering as it is for those who have passed.

One of Dan Forrest’s finest works, “Requiem for the Living,” which was created in 2012 over a ten month period, has been played in famous venues all around the world, including Carnegie Hall.

The opening movement sets the traditional Introit and Kyrie texts- pleas for rest and mercy- using ever-increasing elaborations on a simple three-note descending motive.

The second movement, instead of the traditional Dies Irae, sets Scriptural texts that speak of the turmoil and sorrow which face humanity, while yet invoking musical and textual allusions to the Dies Irae. This movement juxtaposes aggressive rhythmic gestures with long, floating melodic lines, including quotes of the Kyrie from the first movement.

The Agnus Dei is performed next (a departure from the usual liturgical order) as a plea for deliverance and peace; the Sanctus, following it, becomes a response to this redemption.

The Sanctus offers three different glimpses of the “heavens and earth, full of Thy glory”, all of which develop the same musical motive: an ethereal opening section inspired by images of space from the Hubble Space Telescope, a stirring middle section inspired by images of our own planet as viewed from the International Space Station, and a closing section which brings the listener down to Earth, where cities teem with the energy of humanity.

The Lux Aeterna which then closes the work portrays light, peace, and rest- for both the deceased and the living.

“Requiem for the Living” is available for rental through our parent company, Fred Bock Publishing Group. Please submit your rentals request using the online form on our FBPG website.