Rock Requiem
The Rock Requiem is a monumental crossover work that combines elements from different rock styles with various classical directions. The composers of the work are: Guntram Pauli , Klaus Haimerl and Christian Kabitz . The work was written in 1978 and premiered in Munich .
history
In 1975 the violinist and friend of the three composers, Lothar Thorand, died unexpectedly. Affected by this event, the three musicians decided to dedicate a requiem to him that should transcend the boundaries of musical styles.
The Requiem was premiered on November 12, 1978 in the Christ Church in Munich.
In the following years the rock requiem was played live several times at church conventions. In total, the rock requiem was heard live by several 100,000 people. 1981 followed the production of a double LP , which sold over 20,000 times.
After a long break from performance, the rock requiem has been played live again since 2004. In this context, a new CD and DVD was also produced in 2007. In the run-up to a concert in Kassel in 2010, I got in touch with Uli Jon Roth , who could be won as a star guest for this concert . Impressed with the work, he agreed to continue to be available as a guest guitarist for the rock requiem.
Dramaturgical structure
The rock requiem tells - sometimes looking back - of the cancer death of a rock musician. For this purpose, the structure of a “classical” requiem is taken as a “red thread” and dramaturgically supplemented with anal episodes (flashbacks) from the life of the deceased musician. The audience has the opportunity to get closer to the deceased and his life on the one hand (through the flashback technique) and on the other hand to intercede for him and to remember him. At the end, the two narrative strands of the work culminate in the final apotheosis , the (positive) justified hope for the redemption of the deceased - all deceased.
occupation
The rock requiem is performed by a complete classical symphony orchestra , a mixed choir and a band consisting of: drums , electric bass , electric guitar , flute , two keyboards , saxophone , two singers and a female singer .
Rating
In the rock requiem, the traditional mass text is supplemented or contrasted with modern rock lyric poetry; the musical interpretation is provided by the choir, symphony orchestra and a 10-piece rock formation. The spectrum ranges from quiet acoustic parts to jazzy phrasing and bombastic heavy rock. The rock requiem was composed for the live performance. Due to its premiere in 1978, the rock requiem is one of the first full-length live crossover works in music history.
structure
Rock Requiem in the version by Guntram Pauli, Christian Kabitz, Klaus Haimerl
| No. | title | 1st line of text | Form / occupation | Special |
| 1. | Requiem et Kyrie | Requiem aeternam dona ice domine ... | Orchestra prelude - choir - band | |
| 2. | What would you do? | What would you do if you woke up one morning ... | Wing - band - singer | Piano solo as an introit |
| 3. | Dies irae | Day of wrath an doom ... | Band - singer | Big "drum battle" between drums (band) and percussion (orchestra) |
| 4th | Nucleus | I wake up to silence ... | Choir - orchestra - band - singer | Integrated melodrama technology |
| 5. | Facing the end | At the end I must stand to face you ... | Band - singer | Flute bridge based on Ian Anderson |
| 6th | Rex tremendae | King of majesty tremendous ... | Singer - choir - orchestra - band | Interaction singer / choir |
| 7th | Killer in the sun | Sometimes the mountain ... | Orchestra - band - singer | Reggae piece by the band |
| 8th. | Quaerens me | Faint and weary Thou hast sought me ... | Choir - orchestra - band - singer | Orchestra prelude - crossover climax |
| 9. | If love is the answer | Love, if you see me, why do you pass me by? ... | Singer - band | |
| 10. | Lacrymosa | Ah! That day of tears and mourning ... | Flute singer band | Long, modern flute solo |
| 11. | Offertory | Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory ... | Organ - choir - orchestra - band | Impressive introduction by a mighty church organ |
| 12. | Hostias | We offer Thee a sacrifice of price and prayer ... | Choir - band - singer | Jazz piece with choir |
| 13. | Sanctus | Sanctus Deus, Sabaoth ... | Choir - orchestra - band | |
| 14th | Black Dog Cancer | You know it's beautiful, to feel your hand upon my face ... | Band - singer - singer | Introduction and 1st part of the grand finale |
| 15th | Agnus Dei | Lamb of God, who takest away the sins of the world ... | Choir - band - singer - singer - orchestra | 2nd part of the grand finale |
| 16. | Ode to you and me | We are the salt of the earth ... | Orchestra - band - choir - singer - singer | 3rd part and climax of the grand finale |
Press coverage
- The renowned music magazine Melodie & Rhythmus recently selected the Rock Requiem as number 2 in the all-time top ten Christian pop music. Comment: “Cult! Rock band goes classic, on par with Emerson, Lake & Palmer , Deep Purple or Ekseption "
- On the occasion of an evaluation of the Italian crossover project “ Passio Secundum Mattheum ” for Amazon, the critic wrote at the end: “THE reference work is and remains the“ Rock Requiem ”by Guntram Pauli and others."
“A breathtaking mixture - the rock requiem thrilled in the overcrowded Liebfrauenkirche… Even the beginning, with the slowly introducing strings, was bursting with beauty. Then followed 90 minutes tightly packed with sounds: turbulent or gentle, bombastic or lyrical, but always captivating - a pleasure to listen to because it is excellently served by many first-class performers ... "
"... You are all really committed to the matter. The musicians, to whom two male and one female singing voices perform, know how to plow their field, jazz-rock, with ease. They show a style that derives drive and dynamism from heavier layers of rock, but which is then refined and refined with very “jazzy” phrasing of the melody instruments, which loves free-associative insertions like strict sentences. Although completely free of mannered favors, individual titles of this ritually conceived work are so rousing that record managers could expect a single hit with them ... "
"... everyone who is seriously interested in classical rock has practically created a standard work in the opus that you should definitely own as a record ..."
Web links
- Rock Requiem website
- DVD review on ragazzi-music.de