8015 – Requiem Op 48

Gabriel Faure (1845-1924)

Arranged for brass and voices by Philip Harrison

Difficulty: Easy

Price: £30

Programme notes:

Gabriel Faure, a famed pianist, organist and teacher was also the most advanced composer of his generation. In terms of harmony and melodic invention he developed a new style that was to influence the next generation of composers, not only in France but also throughout Europe.

It is odd to think that in spite of the popularity of his best-known work, the Requiem, his output otherwise mainly consists of small scale works for voice, piano and chamber ensembles. In fact he found larger scale music difficult and the Requiem itself took over 20 years to complete, the composition taking from 1877-1890 and orchestration until 1900. It was not written for any specific purpose but simple, in Faure’s words, ‘for the pleasure of it’.