Cumberland Choral Society Present's: Dan Forrest's Requiem for the Living

Our Spring Concert this year features the powerful and moving work, “Requiem for the Living” by American composer, Dan Forrest. “Requiem” in Latin means “rest” and, traditionally, a requiem is a prayer for rest for the deceased. However, in Dan Forrest’s innovative and unique work, this prayer becomes a plea for rest for US as human beings, experiencing the challenges and triumphs in this life. This five-movement 50-minute work is a journey from despair to peace, hope and assurance. The opening movement sets the traditional Introit and Kyrie texts- pleas for rest and mercy- using ever-increasing elaborations on a simple three-note descending motive. The second movement, instead of the traditional Dies Irae, sets Scriptural texts that speak of the turmoil and sorrow which face humanity, while yet invoking musical and textual allusions to the Dies Irae. This movement juxtaposes aggressive rhythmic gestures with long, floating melodic lines, including quotes of the Kyrie from the first movement. The Agnus Dei is performed next (a departure from the usual liturgical order) as a plea for deliverance and peace; the Sanctus, following it, becomes a response to this redemption. The Sanctus offers three different glimpses of the "heavens and earth, full of Thy glory", all of which develop the same musical motive: an ethereal opening section inspired by images of space from the Hubble Space Telescope, a stirring middle section inspired by images of our own planet as viewed from the International Space Station, and a closing section which brings the listener down to Earth, where cities teem with the energy of humanity. The Lux Aeterna which then closes the work portrays light, peace, and rest- for both the deceased and the living.. We will perform this exciting work with a full 35-voice choir and 10 excellent professional instrumentalists and soloists coming from the Pittsburgh/Morgantown/ D.C. area.