In his Motets, Requiem, and Mass 'Cum Jubilo', Maurice Duruflé adapted modern meter to the ancient rhythmic pulse still practiced by the Benedictine monks of Solesmes.
Compositional Technique
Duruflé's Requiem is entirely based on Gregorian chant used in the Mass for the Dead, with the composer aiming to be guided by the special shape of Gregorian melodies.
Performer Biography
The Choir of Magdalen College, Oxford, founded in 1480, is one of the oldest and largest choral foundations in late-medieval England, maintaining its historic legacy for over five centuries.
Performer Biography
English Sinfonia, founded in 1961, is one of the oldest chamber orchestras in the UK and has a core team of about 30 players who perform on modern instruments.
Composer's Artistic Vision
Duruflé's liturgical music, including the Requiem, reflects his profound religious faith and aims to express human sentiments when facing the mystery of life and death.
Composer Biography
Maurice Duruflé, the composer, received instruction from notable figures like Charles Tournemire, Louis Vierne, and Jean Gallon, and studied composition with Paul Dukas at the Paris Conservatoire.
Performer Biography
Bill Ives, the director, was a boy chorister at Ely Cathedral and later a Choral Scholar at Cambridge before joining The King's Singers, performing globally and on recordings.
