Lazarus Requiem
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LAZARUS REQUIEM Lazarus Requiem by Fauré very closely – except at the very end Music by Patrick Hawes where the traditional reference to Dives and Original words and Gospel adaptation by Andrew Hawes For centuries, the requiem mass has been the Lazarus has been omitted (as this refers to a most eloquent and intense means of prayer for different Lazarus.) Fauré’s Requiem selects all 1 Elegy for Lazarus [5.47] the departed. The offering of the sacrifice of the the texts that point to heaven and the hope of Eucharist as a means of intercession has been the resurrection. In the same way, the Lazarus 2 Tableau 1 [3.02] the inspiration for the most sublime music. In Requiem emphasises the victory of Christ over 3 Requiem Aeternam [4.45] the mass, earthly grief is assumed in the worship death, but does not evade the pain and confusion 4 Tableau 2 [3.07] of heaven. In the sign of the raising of Lazarus that death leaves in its wake. The eleventh 5 Kyrie [2.46] in the eleventh chapter of St. John’s Gospel, Jesus chapter of St. John’s Gospel figures heavily in 6 Tableau 3 [4.28] is seen encountering the raw and angry grief the funeral rites of the reformed tradition, of Martha and Mary, and is moved to tears at stressing the need for the personal recognition 7 O Domine Jesu Christe [5.14] Lazarus’s grave. Jesus, who declares himself of Jesus as ‘the resurrection and the life’. In this 8 Tableau 4 [7.42] ‘The Resurrection and the Life’, is both the way, the Lazarus Requiem opens up a truly catholic 9 Sanctus [2.41] victim of death’s pain and a victor over its perspective on the Christian experience of death 0 Benedictus [4.11] power to separate and diminish humanity. In and dying. q Tableau 5 [2.40] all this, he prefigures the events of Easter. In the Lazarus Requiem, the mystery of life and There are various examples of the liturgical w Agnus Dei [3.44] death, the pain of grief and the hope of a risen life sequence of the requiem being used as a e Tableau 6 [4.34] are held in taut symmetry. The experience of framework to carry other texts: Britten’s War r Lux Aeterna [5.02] death and dying, the challenge of faith and Requiem is one English example. In the Lazarus the promise of hope are all present. These are Requiem the text, with the exception of one Total timings: [59.46] words and music for any person who has wondered original poem, is from the New Testament. In in the face of death. this way, the liturgical text and the scripture THOMAS WALKER TENOR (CHRIST) throw light upon one another and so illuminate ELIN MANAHAN THOMAS SOPRANO (MARY) RACHAEL LLOYD MEZZO-SOPRANO (MARTHA) There are many variations of the Propers for the hearts and minds of all those who perform a requiem, and composers have used various and listen in a ‘double light’. It is possible ROYAL SCOTTISH NATIONAL ORCHESTRA EXETER PHILHARMONIC & CATHEDRAL CHOIRS configurations to serve their own creative ends. both to extract the Latin texts and use them as PATRICK HAWES CONDUCTOR The text of the Lazarus Requiem follows that used a liturgical setting, or to extract the narrative of www.signumrecords.com - 3 - the Gospel and perform a dramatic cantata. TEXTS 4 TABLEAU TWO 5 KYRIE Many of the ‘movements’ also stand alone for concert or liturgical performance. 2 TABLEAU ONE Semi-Chorus Chorus Jesus said, Kyrie eleison, The work begins with an orchestral Elegy for Semi-Chorus Christe eleison, Lazarus which depicts the dying man and sets A certain man was ill - Lazarus of Bethany, Christ Kyrie eleison. the scene for the first tableau. The sound worlds the brother of Martha and Mary. Our friend Lazarus has fallen asleep, of the tableaux and the Latin movements are They sent for Jesus saying, but I go to wake him.’ Lord, have mercy; quite different. The Requiem Aeternam, Kyrie, Christ, have mercy; Sanctus etc. use the full resources of both choir Mary and Martha Disciples Lord, have mercy. and orchestra whereas the tableaux, as well as ‘Lord, he whom ye love is ill.’ ‘If he is asleep, he will recover.’ using semi-chorus, are characterised by muted 6 TABLEAU THREE strings, harp and baritone saxophone. Christ’s Christ Christ solos see the addition of the four horns. There ‘This illness is not unto death: it is for the glory ‘Lazarus is dead! I am glad that I was not there Semi-Chorus are moments when the two sound worlds become of God.’ so that you may believe.’ Now, when Jesus came, He found that Lazarus had superimposed. Most notably, the Benedictus already been four days in the tomb. Martha said, takes the form of a soprano solo sung by Mary 3 REQUIEM AETERNAM Semi-Chorus and, at the climax of the miracle when Christ Thomas said, Martha exclaims, “Unbind him! Loose him! Let him go!” Chorus ‘Lord, if you had been here, the mutes are removed from the strings, and Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: Thomas, Disciples my brother would not have died.’ the full orchestra interject with the concluding et lux perpetua luceat eis. ‘Let us go with Him that we may die with him.’ section of this tableau. The final movement of Te decet hymnus Deus in Sion: Semi-Chorus the work is the Lux Aeterna, for choir and et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Jesus said, orchestra, together with the two female soloists. Andrew & Patrick Hawes Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord; Christ and let light perpetual shine upon them. ‘I am the resurrection and the life: he who believes We offer thee hymns, O God in Zion; in me, though he die, yet shall he live, and unto thee shall a vow be given in Jerusalem. and whosoever lives and believeth in me shall never die. Do you believe this?’ - 4 - - 5 - Martha free the souls of the faithful departed Christ 9 SANCTUS ‘Yes Lord: I believe that you are the Christ, from the mouth of the lion ‘Where have you laid him?’ the Son of God.’ nor let Tartarus swallow them; Chorus O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, Semi-Chorus Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, 7 O DOMINE JESU CHRISTE nor let them fall into darkness. Jesus wept. Dominus Deus Sabaoth. O Lord, we offer you sacrifices and prayers of Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Chorus praise: accept them on behalf of those souls whom Christ Hosanna in excelsis. O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, we remember today, Eyes, come and see the hard, cold stone of death. libera animas defunctorum de poenis inferni, As once you promised to Abraham and his seed. See, and then know the loss and fear in grief. Holy, holy, holy, et de profundo lacu: O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, Know, and then fear the pain within His will; Lord God of Sabaoth O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, free the souls of all the faithful departed from And see prefigured there Golgotha’s hill. Heaven and earth are full of thy glory. libera animas defunctorum de ore leonis, infernal punishment and the deep pit; Eyes, run with tears that spring from pity’s care; Hosanna in the highest. ne absorbeat tartarus: nor let them fall into darkness. Pity that flows from Love’s desire to share. O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, Amen. Love pity me who Death for love will bear. 0 BENEDICTUS ne cadant in obscurum. Weep and still weep: Hostias et preces tibi Domine laudis offerimus: 8 TABLEAU FOUR Death’s sure decay is near. Mary / Chorus tu suscipe pro animabus illis, I lift up my eyes and beyond sense and sound Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Semi-Chorus I see the mystery of Glorious love unbound; Hosanna in excelsis. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Mary came to Jesus and fell at His feet saying, Love not bound by reason, time or death: Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini eius. The gift of hope; the warm touch of His breath. Blessed are they who come in the name of the Lord. O Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, Mary Hosanna in the highest. libera animas defunctorum de poenis inferni, ‘Lord, if you had been here my brother would not Mary, Martha, Thomas et de profundo lacu: ne cadant in obscurum. have died.’ ‘See how much He loved him.’ q TABLEAU FIVE Amen. Semi-Chorus Semi-Chorus O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, When Jesus saw her weeping, He was deeply moved Jesus, deeply moved came to the tomb. It was a free the souls of the faithful departed in spirit and said, cave and a stone lay upon it. Jesus said, from infernal punishment and the deep pit; O Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory, - 6 - - 7 - Christ e TABLEAU SIX © Andrew Mellor ‘Take away the stone.’ Semi-Chorus Martha Jesus lifted up his eyes and said, ‘Lord, there will be a stench. He has been dead four days.’ Christ ‘Father, I thank thee that thou hearest me. Lazarus Christ come out!’ ‘Did I not tell you to believe and you would see the glory of God?’ Semi-Chorus The dead man came out bound in grave clothes. w AGNUS DEI Christ Chorus ‘Unbind him! Loose him! Let him go!’ Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. r LUX AETERNA Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, miserere nobis.