Verdi: Requiem (Cambridge Music Handbooks)

Verdi's Messa da Requiem is one of the most frequently performed works of the choral repertoire, and one of Verdi's most important non-operatic works. This new handbook offers an up-to-date account of the work's genesis, its performance history, and issues regarding performing practice. The central chapters provide a descriptive analysis of the work, while exploring some of the critical issues raised by individual sections, such as Verdi's interpretation of the text, his reactions to previous Requiems by Mozart and Berlioz, as well as the reception of his Requiem by critics. Subsequent chapters discuss some of the most important changes and revisions Verdi made in fashioning the Requiem. The author's final discussions investigate two critical issues: the work's unità musicale, and the central issue in its reception history, its generic status and the extent to which the Requiem is operatic. Verdi's Messa da Requiem is one of the most frequently performed works of the choral repertoire, and Verdi's most important non-operatic work. This new handbook offers an up-to-date account of the work's genesis, its performance history and issues regarding performing practice. The central chapters provide a descriptive analysis of the work, while exploring some of the critical issues raised by individual sections, such as Verdi's interpretation of the text (with reference to other settings by Mozart, Cherubini and Berlioz which may have influenced him); as well as the reception of his Requiem by critics. The Latin text and English translation are provided. Subsequent chapters discuss some of the most important changes and revisions Verdi made in fashioning the Requiem. The author's final discussions investigate two critical issues: the work's unita musicale, and the central issue in the history of its reception, its generic status and the extent to which the Requiem is 'operatic'. Frontmatter Preface (page vii) 1 The genesis of the Messa da Requiem per l'anniversario della morte di Manzoni 22 maggio 1874 (page 1) 2 The premiere, subsequent performance history, and performing practices (page 11) 3 Requiem e Kyrie (page 18) 4 Dies iræ (page 23) 5 Offertorio (page 45) 6 Sanctus (page 49) 7 Agnus Dei (page 53) 8 Lux æterna (page 56) 9 The Libera me and its genesis (page 60) 10 Two revisions (page 75) 11 The unità musicale of the Requiem (page 80) 12 A question of genre (page 89) Notes (page 98) Select bibliography (page 110) Index (page 112) Verdi's Requiem is one of the most frequently performed works of the choral repertoire, and one of Verdi's most important nonoperatic works. In this new handbook, David Rosen discusses the work's composition and performance history, and analyzes each of the seven movements, considering Verdi's interpretation of the liturgical text, with reference to settings by Mozart and Cherubini. Rosen also considers the work's coherence and the controversial issue of its generic status--the degree to which it is "operatic." David Rosen. Includes Bibliographical References And Index.