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Mozart's Requiem is undoubtedly one of the most outstanding and poignant choral works ever written.
It was commissioned by a mysterious nobleman in 1791; however, the count's plan to pass off the work as his own was to be thwarted by fate when Mozart died, aged 35, leaving the Requiem incomplete. After his death the instrumentation of the Kyrie was supplied by Freystädtler with trumpet and drum parts by Süssmayr who added three more movements to bring the work to an effective conclusion.
From the very opening we are plunged into a dark and sombre world, yet one with moments of thrilling drama and serene beauty.
Bach's exuberant Magnificat was first performed in St Nicholas's Church, Leipzig, at Christmas in 1723. Some six or more years later he reworked the piece and removed the four interpolated Christmas movements that had been included in the original version.
This left a splendid setting of the Latin Magnificat, Mary's song of thanksgiving after a vision of the angel announcing the birth of Jesus, as described in St Luke's Gospel, Chapter 1.
An exultant and up-lifting choral work, full of hope.
Salisbury Cathedral and Magna Carta, Salisbury
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