FULL REQUIEM (Niall Taro Ferguson) Los Angeles CA 2024
Information on the Performance
- Work Title: Requiem
- Composer: Niall Taro Ferguson
- Libretto: traditional
- Venue & Opera Company: St. John’s Cathedral, Los Angeles, California
- Recorded: February 24, 2024
- Type: Concert Live
- Singers:
- Conductor: Christopher Gravis
- Orchestra: Laós Chamber Orchestra
- Chorus: St. John’s Cathedral Choir
- Stage Director:
- Costume Designer:
Information about the Recording
- Published by: Niall Taro
- Date Published: 2024
- Format: Streaming
- Quality Video: 4 Audio:4
- Subtitles: nosubs
- Video Recording from: YouTube FULL VIDEO
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION ON THIS PERFORMANCE
Requiem for Choir, Orchestra, and Organ (2024) – Niall Taro Ferguson
I. Introit 0:00
II. Kyrie 3:40
III. Sanctus 7:38
IV. Agnus Dei (for Antonio Lysy) 11:25
V. Pie Jesu 15:00
VI. Libera Me 20:10
VII. In Paradisum 26:37
Program Notes:
My Requiem is a contemplative work that serves as a meditation on the profound themes of loss, grief, celebration, and the supernatural. Each movement of this piece represents a distinct stage of the emotional and spiritual journey experienced in the face of departure and the mysteries of the afterlife.
The requiem unfolds with the haunting strains of the Introit, setting a solemn and introspective tone beckoning the listener into a sacred space of contemplation and reflection. The Kyrie then follows with a plaintive plea for mercy and solace, first in the murmurs of a dream-like state, before dissolving into waking reality, with a persistent rhythmic ostinato serving as a reminder of life’s unrelenting continuation even in the absence of a loved one. As the requiem progresses, the Sanctus emerges as a luminous beacon of hope amidst the darkness, celebrating the promise of eternal light and peace beyond the veil of mortality.
The Agnus Dei and Pie Jesu take on a more introspective tone, focusing on the thoughts and experiences of the surviving in the wake of loss. A turbulent and energetic Libera Me conjures the image of the day of Final Judgement, and serves as a plea for mercy on the souls of the dead.
The heart of the requiem lies in the In Paradisum, a deeply personal and transcendental meditation on departure and homecoming. Divided into two halves, the first reimagines a song penned by my late father, offering a poignant homage to the departed and a tender farewell to cherished memories. In contrast, the second half draws inspiration from traditional Japanese Bon-Odori music, evoking the jubilant atmosphere of the Obon festival and celebrating the reunion of spirits with their loved ones. Through these contrasting movements, the In Paradisum embodies the bittersweet journey of saying goodbye and embracing the promise of homecoming in the afterlife.
Dedicated to my dad, Scott Montgomery Ferguson.