31 March 2026

Dear Requiemers,

Congratulations on a very successful term's work on the Verdi, and thank you all for your commitment, it's a fun ride. 

Alan (new 'Chair' Man) and I have been working on the complicated seating plan for the URC concert, and Iain ('the Stage') has been considering what changes are required to his magnificent platforms! When we meet up again after Easter the concert will be visible on the horizon, and from April 21 we will sit in 'concert formation' in rehearsal.

The Workshop on April 18 is filling up nicely and I am looking forward to making it a 'come and sing', stopping to admire the view when necessary, ironing out bumps in the road, in contrast to slow and forensic note-picking. This will be a great opportunity for welcoming friends who know the Requiem well, and just fancy a sing on a Saturday afternoon! 

WHAT WE DID ON 31.03.26
Dies irae - Revisited from the beginning and covered specifically: Pages 17-37, 42-51, 60-69. NB Tenors still need to cover page 41 (next reh). In addition to securing more of the notes, we are getting to grips with dynamic variations too. Sang through the Sanctus - we all made it to the end!

We thanked Peter A for his support this term - pianistically and with sectionals.

WHAT WE WILL DO ON 14.04.26.....
There are a few sections in the Dies Irae to nail before it is complete: Page 41 (tenors), pages 46-51, the tricky harmony on page 47 (bars 357 to 363), and pages 64-75.

Libera me where the Dies irae material returns, pages 120-129.  

Sanctus - Take another look at this, slowly......

.....and on 21.04.26
Libera me - from page 130 to end, then join up with beginning (p117)
+ matters arising from the workshop on the 18th!!

Inspiration corner returns...
The greatest composer of all time has to be J S Bach. We are all familiar with the great Mass in B minor. I discovered a gem on Radio 3 this week, his Mass in G minor, for which he adapts the opening from cantata 102 and two choruses (and three arias) from cantatas 187 and 72.

Bach's Passions can always be heard somewhere at Easter. This Mass is not a Passiontide piece, but the beauty of the music is so evocative that there is no doubt where we are in the Christian calendar. 

The Cum sancto spiritu (final movt) starts at 13' 49" in this fabulous 'original instruments' performance from Holland. It is absolutely thrilling, a cracking pace, full of energy.
Try the opening Kyrie, which has the most sublime fugal melodies, and the Gloria at 7'51". Click HERE for the link to YouTube.

Peter