Requiem Symphony-Towards Paradise-Symphony 3, 1983 (Archived)

Date: 

1986

Instrumentation: 

  • Orchestral/Large Orchestra
  • Choral Music

Forces: 

SATB chorus, orchestra

In 1983 Requiem Symphony was comprised of four movements: 1)  A solemn procession through darkness; 2)  A praising psalm; 3)  Toward Paradise, into the light; 4)  A hymn of extactic prayer.

This symphony was inspired by the form and spirit of Dante's 'Divine Comedy', and is a squal to my Christus Requiem, continuing the journey of the soul onward through Purgatory and 'Toward Paradise'. The soul is not only that of Christ whose crucifixion is told dramatically in the Christus Requiem, but that of mankind too; the secret hope of all people, even though they may not admit to any religioius basis for it, to attain a Paradise one day.

The writing of this symphony took over eight years between 1974 and 1982, and this covered a period of changes for Standford, artistic consolidation and a growing isolation in which he was able to reflect on a highly personal musical structure and language. It was awarded the Ernest Ansermet Prize in 1983.

These samples are taken from a recording made by the Choir of Radio Suisse Romande and the Pro Art Choir of Lausanne led by Andre Charlet with the Orchestra of the Suisse Romande conducted by Richard Hickox in St Peter's Cathedral in Genève in 1986.

Please contact the Patric Standford Estate for further information.

Recording: 

Award/prize: 

Performance: