WAR REQUIEM

Composed byBenjamin Brittenfor the consecration of the rebuilt Coventry Cathedral, which had been destroyed by German bombing in World War II, theWar Requiemintersperses poems of Wilfrid Owen (1893–1918, killed in World War I), sung by tenor and baritone soloists accompanied by a chamber orchestra, into the traditional Latin Requiemmasstext sung by either a boys’ choir andorganor a four-voiced choir with an occasional soprano solo accompanied by a large orchestra of triple woodwinds, six horns, four trumpets, three trombones, tuba, piano, percussion and strings. TheWar Requiempremiered on 30 May 1962 at the cathedral. It requires about 85 minutes to perform.