Mozart's Requiem

Mozart's Requiem is full of intrigue because Mozart had been commissioned to compose it by a young count in the knowledge that the count was likely to claim it as his own. Then 35-year-old Mozart tragically died of food poisoning, leaving the end to finish. Mozart's wife, Constance, wanted the money so enlisted the help of a colleague of Mozart's who declined claiming not enough time. So Constance went to a student of Mozart who very wisely tweaked the score of previous sections to finish the piece, as Mozart himself would have done. Beethoven was moved to note - If Mozart did not write the music, then the man who wrote it was a Mozart.

Mozart was a Mason and had been dismissed by the Archbishop of Salzburg for being too free-spirited. However, he had a prodigious memory and would have had little difficulty in familiarising himself with Catholic liturgy. While he wrote relatively little church music, he was very knowledgeable of the work of others such as Bach and others who had written extensively, so he knew of the musical forms of the Catholic mass. But probably what makes this Requiem so popular is the way Mozart highlights the deep love obviously inherent in people at the time of death, for each other, for the object of their beliefs, and in someone who would die for others. Mozart was especially adept at having his music represent feelings, especially joy and wonderment.

The Requiem has now become widely and often performed with sections that will sound quite familiar. In this concert, four soloists - Jennifer Little, Cecily Shaw, Iain Tetley and Lindsay Yeo - will be singing alongside Palmerston North's Renaissance Singers and Whanganui's Schola Sacra who, under conductor, Christine Archer-Lockwood, have combined to help create the fuller sound that the Requiem is known for. Tim Jones of the Manawatu Sinfonia will be on the timpani and Jonathan Berkahn will provide the marvellous organ accompaniment.

Jonathan will also play Chris Artley's Organ Toccata which has been played by noted organist David Briggs at a special performance in America after it won a prestigious competition for organ composition. The combined choir will then sing Artley's Make a Joyful Noise. Former Englishman, now owned by Kiwis, Chris Artley has won numerous choral composition competitions including in this year's World Choral Day category at the 5th International Federation for Choral Music.

Finally, the combined choirs with bass-baritone, Lindsay Yeo will perform Vaughn William's Five Mystical Songs based on poems by George Herbert. The irony of these songs is that Williams was then an atheist using pious religious poems selected by Williams because of their heartfelt writing and clever word-smithing. William's admiration for the writing is obvious in the effort he put into bringing it to life musically.

The choristers have been working hard on the more difficult task of maintaining intensity in the quieter passages as well as conveying the emotional intent. They look forward to seeing the audience really enjoy the musical experience as a consequence. Do come!