Verdi: Requiem

The section explores the composition Requiem by Verdi.

Introduction to Giuseppe Verdi

• Born: 1813 in Le Roncole, Italy, Giuseppe Verdi was a renowned Italian opera composer during the Romantic period.
• Early Life and Training: As a child, Verdi received much of his musical training through the local church near Bussetto. After his studies, Verdi moved to Milan, where he began establishing himself as a composer, director, and musician.
• Career and Compositions: In 1839, Verdi's first opera, Oberto, premiered at Milan’s prestigious theatre La Scala. Over his lifetime, Verdi composed more than 25 operas and several sacred works for voices and orchestra.
• Famous Sacred Works: One of his most famous sacred works is the Requiem Mass in D minor, composed in 1874 and performed a year later in Milan. The Requiem features four soloists, a full choir, and a large orchestra.

About the Requiem

• Requiem Mass: A requiem is a mass for the dead, often performed at funeral services. In the case of Verdi's Requiem, it omits parts of a traditional mass, such as the Gloria and Credo, replacing them with more somber and emotional sections like:
  • Requiem Aeternam (Eternal Rest)
  • Dies Irae (Day of Wrath)
  • Pie Jesu (Merciful Jesus)
• Romantic Period: While requiems were composed in the Classical period, they became especially popular in the Romantic period, where the size of orchestras expanded significantly. This allowed composers, like Verdi, to write more dramatic and emotional music.
• Premiere: The Requiem was first performed at the Church of San Marco in Milan in 1874.

Key Musical Elements in Verdi's Requiem

Tonality

• Overall Tonality: The Requiem is primarily in A minor.
• Modulation: Verdi uses key changes throughout the work, often modulating to major keys. The Requiem ends in the relative major of A minor, C major, providing contrast and resolution.

Harmony

• Verdi's Requiem is known for its use of intense harmonic devices, such as:
  • Dissonance: This is present throughout the piece, creating tension. A striking example is the descending chromatic vocal lines over a tonic pedal in bars 5-8 in the Dies Irae section, particularly on the words "Dies Irae".

Dynamics and Articulation

• Extreme Dynamic Ranges: Verdi exploits extreme dynamic contrasts, which was a hallmark of the Romantic period, to create drama and intensity in the music. Examples include:
  • The final few bars of the Requiem are marked pppp (extremely soft), providing a reflective and subdued ending.
  • The brass section frequently plays with fortissimo (ff) dynamics and accents, especially marked tutta forza (with force), emphasising the dramatic nature of the music.

Structure

• The Requiem is through-composed, meaning it is written continuously without repetition of sections.
• The order of sections in Verdi’s Requiem is as follows:

Requiem Aeternam - Eternal Rest

Kyrie Eleison - Lord, have Mercy

Lacrimosa - Mourning

Dies Irae - Day of Wrath

Domine Jesu - Lord Jesus Christ

Sanctus - Holy

Benedictus - Blessed be the Lord

Pie Jesu - Merciful Jesus

Agnus Dei - Lamb of God

Lux Aeterna - Eternal Light

Libera Me - Deliver Me

Instrumentation

• The Requiem was composed for a large orchestra and choir, featuring a variety of instruments:
  • Solo Quartet: Soprano, Mezzo-soprano, Tenor, and Bass.
  • Orchestra:
    • Three flutes, piccolo
    • Two oboes, two clarinets
    • Four bassoons
    • Four French horns
    • Eight trumpets (with four off-stage for dramatic effect)
    • Three trombones
    • Ophicleide (a brass instrument)
    • Timpani and bass drum
    • Strings (violins, violas, cellos, and double basses)

The large size of the orchestra adds to the dramatic and emotional nature of the work.

Performing and Composing Ideas

• The techniques Verdi used in the Requiem can be applied to performances and composition, such as:
  • The dramatic use of dynamic contrasts to create emotional impact.
  • The use of dissonance and chromaticism to build tension and drama.
  • The expressive use of the orchestra and choir, along with specific articulations (e.g., accents, forceful brass).

Impact of Verdi’s Requiem

• Political and Cultural Impact: Verdi’s music, especially his operas and Requiem, played a significant role in the cultural and political landscape of Italy during his lifetime. When Verdi was born, Italy consisted of a number of small, fragmented kingdoms. By the time of his death in 1901, Italy had become a unified nation.
• Patriotism and Nationalism: Verdi’s operas were seen as a patriotic symbol, and his music contributed to the unification of Italy by inspiring the masses to rally for a united country.
• Legacy: Verdi is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers Italy ever produced. His works influenced not only Italian composers but also those from other countries, such as Benjamin Britten, who was influenced by Verdi’s dramatic style.

Key Takeaways

• Verdi was a prominent composer in the Romantic period, known for his operas and sacred works, including the Requiem.
• Requiem is a sacred work for the dead, performed at funerals, and is a dramatic, emotional composition.
• Tonality and Harmony: The piece primarily uses A minor, with modulations and dissonance creating dramatic tension.
• Structure: The Requiem is through-composed and features sections such as Dies Irae and Pie Jesu.
• Instrumentation: Written for soloists, large choir, and a full orchestra, with dramatic use of dynamics and orchestral colours.
• Legacy: Verdi's music played a role in the unification of Italy and influenced generations of composers worldwide.