REQUIEM, HECTOR BERLIOZ, OP. 5

Composed to commemorate those killed in an attempt to assassinate French King Louis-Philippe on 28 July 1835,HectorBerlioz’Grande Messe des Morts, dated 29 June 1837, did not see its first performance, owing to a lapse of funding, until 5 December atLes Invalidesto commemorate instead Count Charles of Demrémont. A patriotic more than liturgical work, theRequiemis famous for its "Tuba mirum" chorus from theDies Iraesequence, scored for four brass choirs, four bassdrums, 10 pairs of cymbals, and 16 timpani that accompany the symphony orchestra of more than 120. Berlioz’ score calls for a six-voiced chorus of 210 and a tenor soloist. It requires about 85 minutes to perform.