Fauré’s work sits alongside other famous requiem masses such as those by Mozart and Verdi. However, he presents a very different perspective on the passage from life to death. Mozart’s Requiem is dramatic and intense, full of mystery, terror and grandeur, while Verdi’s approach is full of drama and explosive contrasts – a work of human passion, not quiet faith. Fauré took a different view – his Requiem is serene, intimate and consolatory, focusing on eternal rest and peace, rather than divine judgement. He commented: “It has been said that my Requiem does not express the fear of death and someone has called it a “lullaby of death”. But it is thus that I see death: as a happy deliverance, an aspiration towards happiness above, rather than as a painful experience.”

This uplifting serenity was in abundance throughout the Service, with each movement sung at the appropriate part of the Eucharist. The opening Introit et Kyrie started deceptively quietly, building quickly to the plea to “let perpetual light shine on them." The final section of the Offertorium offered a beautiful sequence of suspensions building to a stunning climax, before settling to a heart-rending resolution, while the Sanctus provided an opportunity for some glorious forte passages sung in unison. Harry L delivered an impressively assured performance of the Pie Jesu, while William N’s Hostias and Kyven T’s Libera Me were notable for their power and grace. The Agnus Dei, which has perhaps one of the loveliest opening sequences for a tenor line in western music, was executed with delicacy and restraint, and the service finished with the angelic In Paradisum, showcasing the Quiristers’ admirable balance and control, and leaving the congregation with lasting feelings of optimism and hope.

With each new academic year, the Choir must inevitably say goodbye to some longstanding established members while welcoming new faces, and it can take a bit of time for things to settle and adjust. This makes it all the more impressive that, just half a term into the new year, the sound – expertly overseen by Dónal McCann and ably assisted by Ben Cunningham, is already so rich and balanced.

The Fauré Requiem is a much-loved and popular piece of music, regularly performed in secular concert settings with a full orchestra and adult choir, and its lyricism and emotional depth never fail to have a powerful impact on any audience. However, to hear it performed in a liturgical context, sung so beautifully with just an organ accompaniment in a service commemorating departed loved ones – a number of whom were mentioned by name – was a rare and profoundly moving experience; and a privilege to be part of.

Guy 
Q Parent