Philip Moore’s new Requiem will be given its world premiere on Friday 18 November 2016 (2pm) at St Paul’s Church, Knightsbridge in a concert to be given by the BBC Singers, conducted by David Hill. The concert will also be broadcast on BBC Radio 3.
Dedicated to the memory of his Mother and Father, Philip Moore’s Requiem is written for soprano solo, mixed voices and organ. There is also an arrangement for chamber ensemble.
Much of the work is based on two motto themes that appear at the start of the first movement. Unusually perhaps, the music of Domine, Jesu Christe is strong and rhythmic, while the sadness of Lacrimosa highlights the tranquillity of Pie Jesu. During In paradisum, a slow moving pedal line suggests a procession of mourners to the graveside.
Philip Moore said ‘I sometimes think that every composer has a requiem waiting to be composed, in the same way, perhaps, as the book we all have waiting to be written. My Requiem has taken some time to come to fruition. For some years I considered writing a large-scale work. Eventually I felt a work that could be sung liturgically, with organ accompaniment, might be the most useful approach.’
He added that ‘like many composers of the last 100 years, I have not set the whole of the Dies irae. The final part of the text, Pie Jesu, was immortalised by Faure. This probably accounts for its appearance in many requiems since. I have often felt that this part of the text can appear somewhat isolated if it is not linked in any way to the drama of the words that precede it. I have therefore set Lacrimosa, the part of the text immediately preceding Pie Jesu, in order to give the latter more meaning.’
Philip Moore (b. 1943), who was Organists and Master of the Music at York Minster, has an international reputation as a composer. He studied at the Royal College of Music, and before moving to York, held posts at Eton College, Canterbury Cathedral and Guildford Cathedral. On retiring from the Minster in 2008, he was made Organist Emeritus. In 2015, he became President of the Royal College of Organists, a post that is held for two years. He was also given The Cranmer Award for Worship from the Archbishop of Canterbury in 2016.
Philip Moore’s Requiem will be published by Encore Publications in the Autumn. Head of Publishing, Tim Rogers, commented that ‘we are delighted to be associated with this major work by such a distinguished British musician. Since the foundation of Encore Publications, almost 25 years ago, Philip Moore has been a major contributor to our choral and organ catalogues. He takes immense care with his compositions, often making an initial draft and then re-working different sections several times, before settling on a final version. He always writes with such eloquence and a highly original voice. His choral music is crafted from thought-provoking themes, vitalised by unusual rhythmic twists and turns, and packed full of subtle colouring.’
For more information, please contact: http://www.encorepublications.com
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