- the first critical edition of the last work by Gounod
- detailed foreword in three languages
- critical Report with information about the source situation and the
edition, and containing the individual readings (alternative readings, etc.)
Charles Gounod composed this Requiem under the impact of the death of his
four-year-old grandson, Maurice. According to information handed down, while
finishing the details of this work he was overtaken by death. It was published
posthumously in various constellations by his pupil, Henri Busser, but the only
complete version from the pen of Gounod is the version for large orchestra,
which is published here for the first time in a critical edition.
Gounod’s
Requiem, unlike many contemporary settings of the Mass of the Dead, is not
characterized by darkness and terror. Rather, with all of its trepidation –
expressed through a marked chromaticism – an atmosphere of hopeful expectation,
of trust in the grace and equity of the divine judge predominates. This
confidence finds its expression in the choice of the fundamental key of C major,
which is rather unusual for a requiem. The work was given an impressive
performance on the occasion of the first anniversary of Gounod’s death in the
Parisian church of Sainte-Madeleine under the direction of Gabriel Fauré and it
was highly acclaimed by the contemporary press.
(
Ver Extracto Completo ♫ )
Catalogue number: op. Posth.
Scoring: Solo SATB, Coro SATB, 2 Fl, 2 Ob, Eh, 2 Clt, 2 Fg, 4 Cor, 2 Tr,
3 Trb, Tb, Timp, Grosse Caisse, Arpa, Perc, 2 Vl, Va, Vc, Cb, Org
Language: Latin
Key: C major
Duration: 35 min
pages: 136
