Requiem facts for kids

A Requiem is a special church service in the Catholic Church. It is also called a Requiem Mass. People use it to remember someone who has died.

The words for a Requiem Mass are in Latin. The most famous part starts with "Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine." This means "Give them eternal rest, O Lord." This is why it is called a "Requiem."

Many composers have written music for these words. So, "Requiem" can also mean a piece of music written for this service.

History of Requiems

Remembering people who have died with a special service has been done since at least the 2nd century.

Early Music

In the Middle Ages, the words of the Requiem Mass were sung using Gregorian chant. This is a simple, single-voice style of singing.

During the Renaissance, church music became more complex. It often had several voices singing different melodies at the same time. This style is called polyphonic. Composers like Johannes Ockeghem wrote Requiems in this way.

This polyphonic style continued into the Baroque period (17th and early 18th centuries).

Famous Requiems

The most famous Requiem from the 18th century was written by Mozart. Many people think it is one of the greatest pieces of music ever made. Mozart died before he could finish it.

In the 19th century, many composers wrote Requiems. Most of these were for concerts, not just church services. But they still used the traditional Latin words.

• Luigi Cherubini wrote a Requiem to remember Louis XVI. He also wrote one for himself, which was played at his own funeral.
• Giuseppe Verdi wrote a very dramatic Messa da Requiem in 1874. It sounds a lot like an opera.
• Other composers like Bruckner, Saint-Saëns, and Dvořák also wrote Requiems.
• Johannes Brahms wrote Ein Deutsches Requiem (A German Requiem). It is special because he used words from the German translation of the Bible, instead of the usual Latin words.
• In 1888, Gabriel Fauré wrote a Requiem. It used an orchestra without most violins. Later, he added an important solo part for a baritone singer.

In the 20th century, composers continued to write Requiems. One of the most famous is Britten’s War Requiem (1961). This work shows how terrible and pointless war is. Britten used the Latin words of the Requiem Mass. He also added English poems by Wilfred Owen. Owen was a soldier killed in the First World War. The solo singers represent German and English soldiers. This work was written for Coventry Cathedral. The old cathedral was destroyed in World War II.

Parts of a Requiem Mass

A traditional Requiem Mass has several main parts. Each part has its own special words and music.

• Introitus: This means "entrance." It starts with "Requiem aeternam dona eis, domine" ("Give them eternal rest, O Lord").
• Kyrie: This means "Lord, have mercy."
• Dies irae: This means "Day of Wrath." It describes the Day of Judgment. The words are "Dies irae, dies illa solvet saeclum in favilla" ("Day of wrath, that day will dissolve the world in ashes").
• Offertorium: This is the "offering" part. The words are "Domine Jesu Christe" ("Lord Jesus Christ").
• Sanctus: This means "Holy."
• Benedictus: This means "Blessed."
• Agnus Dei: This means "Lamb of God."
• Lux aeterna: This means "eternal light."

Mozart's Requiem follows these parts. The order of these parts was set by the Council of Trent in the 16th century.

Images for kids

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  Requiem for Cirilo Almario, the second Bishop of Malolos, 2016

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  Black vestments used in Requiem Masses

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  Incipit of the Gregorian chant introit for a Requiem Mass, from the Liber Usualis

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  A portion of the manuscript of Mozart's Requiem, K 626 (1791), showing his heading for the first movement

See also

In Spanish: Réquiem para niños