Customer Reviews

Balakauskas: Requiem in memoriam Stasys Lozoraitis

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Written in a largely Medieval mode, Balakauskas's "Requiem" emphasizes objective clarity in the face of death. It is not a mournful dirge and it certainly is not a large scale commemoration (ala Verdi, or even Britten). The vocal writing is in a very narrow range -- drawing directly upon the style of gregorian chant. The instrumental support is often very spare, but establishes a steady non-dragging rhythmic character that drives most of the piece. These rhythms prevent the piece from ever becoming maudlin or even contemplative in the way that some of the 20th Century Eastern Spiritual music is (the most extreme example being Gorecki, but others as well). Nor is attempting to directly achieve the zen that Tavener's music is striving for. I kept thinking of Bernstein's "Chichester Psalms" or even Stravinsky's "Symphony of Psalms", though both those pieces are far more melodically and harmonically strident than this is -- nonetheless the tempo rarely slows, and the rhythms are more complex than any true medieval piece would be.

Finally, in the concluding Lacrymosa the tempo slows, and the first sign of emotional balm is felt. The Angus Dei coda then gradually integrates the more directly emotional style of the Lacrymosa back into the style of the remainder of the piece, ending on as quiet a note as the piece began.

If you've enjoyed Pärt and some of the other 20th Century Eastern Spiritualism, but are open to the distancing effect that a more directly medieval approach brings, then you'll probably enjoy this. It's meaningful, but not essential or revelatory, and is a bit of departure from Balaskauskas's other music, which feels more atmospheric than this.

Composed in memory of a Lithuanian nationalist for chamber orchestra, mezzo-soprano and chorus this Requiem contains the traditional words for masses of the dead. Naxos as usual has adroit notes that explain this composer of whom I have never heard. The whole ensemble shine but especially mezzo Leitale who sings each verse with the choir. The piece seems to be written in the simplifying sytle of Part but unlike his works I double we be listening to it in years to come