François Dompierre, Orchestre Filmharmonique, Francis Choinière, Ensemble ArtChoral – Dompierre: Requiem (2024)
FLAC (tracks) 24 bit/96 kHz | Time – 55:16 minutes | 1,05 GB | Genre: Classical
Studio Masters, Official Digital Download | Front Cover | © L-A be
François Dompierre’s Requiem is nothing short of cinematic in nature. Its 12 liturgical texts are set in a manner that takes the listener on a journey through a plethora of sonic environments that are unexpected but seamlessly blend with the character of the Requiem genre. The French horn carries the opening Kyrie with its moving response gestures to the choir. This, of course, comes after the magnificent string opening—two broken dissonant chords are closed by a grand perfect cadence before the choir enters. This setting preserves the ancient text with familiar conventions but explores new musical textures and timbres.
The Dies Irae opens with an industrial soundscape led by percussion. The metallic rhythms are accompanied by the choir whispering a syncopated setting of the text, which is again overlayed with a more melodic line in the soprano. These film score-esque soundscapes continue through each movement, bringing a unique theme to the Requiem genre that still manages to preserve the integrity and significance of the sacred texts. Movement X, Lux Aeterna, forgoes some of the dense textures used previously.
The choir opens unaccompanied, focusing on the round, clean sound characteristic of this movement’s text. Even here, modernity is not lost, as the choir’s contemporary harmonic structures are interspersed with a joyful motif from the piano. As the movement continues, the accompaniment moves from contrasting to supportive, returning the spotlight to the singers’ expert delivery of the text.
Tracklist:
1-01. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: I. Introït-Kyrie (07:48)
1-02. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: II. Dies Irae (02:40)
1-03. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: III. Tuba Mirum (03:33)
1-04. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: IV. Lacrimosa (04:01)
1-05. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: V. Hostias (04:01)
1-06. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: VI. Recordare (06:08)
1-07. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: VII. Sanctus (02:49)
1-08. Myriam Leblanc – Requiem: VIII. Benedictus (02:23)
1-09. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: IX. Agnus Dei (06:05)
1-10. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: X. Lux Aeterna (04:28)
1-11. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: XI. Libera (07:47)
1-12. Orchestre Filmharmonique – Requiem: XII. In Paradisum (03:27)
