Requiem Mass

A requiem mass is essentially a sacred composition with religious texts for funeralsÐ'--or in a more general sense, it is a mass for the dead, a prayer of eternal rest offered to the dead. Sung on All Souls' Day (November 2), the requiem mass is performed in memory of those who have past away, or on other days in honor of a certain person. Originally, requiems were composed for liturgical services of the Roman Catholic Church performed in monophonic chants; however, the requiem became a genre by itself once its unique character started to grab the attention of composers. There are also non-Catholic requiems which include the Lutheran (German), Anglican (English), Hebrew, and Orthodox requiems; however, the main focus will be placed on the Roman Catholic requiem mass.

The requiem mass is different from the original massÐ'--it omits the Gloria, Credo, Alleluia because they are too happy. Thus, the Council of Trent decided the texts of the requiem mass of the Roman Catholic liturgy should appear as follows: Introit, Kyrie eleison, Gradual, Tract, Dies Irae, Offertory, Sanctus, Agnus Dei, and finally Communion. The function of the Introit is to give a name for a certain mass. Latin for "entrance", the Introit for a Mass is different every day of the Liturgical Calendar. Thus, the reason a requiem mass is called so is because the first line of the Introit reads, "Requiem Ð"¦ternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis," which translates into "Eternal rest grant unto them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them." The Kyrie eleison means "O Lord" in Greek, and today it is usually sung in the vernacular. The ABA structure of the Kyrie eleison not only mirrors the three times each line is sung, but also the symmetrical structure of the text.

The Gradual, or Si ambulem, is a responsorial chant that comes before the Tract (or Sicut cerves) that replaces the joyful Alleluia. The