Album Notes

Requiem Mass; Opus 27.

There are not many masses written these days, much less a requiem mass. Yet, when they are written and performed as beautifully as they are here, the mass, especially the requiem mass, demonstrates the great power of ritual and music to lift the soul beyond its earthly bonds. Such is this music by Michelle Ende'; performed here by the Bay Area Philharmonic and Chorus.
The Requiem Mass may be divided in several parts at the discretion of the composer. Like Mozart, Michelle Ende' chose to use the standard ritual, adding only the Dies Irae' as a dramatic device.
The work is laid out in the following manner, beginning with the Requiem Aeternum, or eternal rest, the work moves to the Kyrie, through the Dies Irae, to the Sanctus, the Agnus Dei and the Benediction, or final blessing for the dead and the participants of the mass.
It is at once, a modern interpretation of the mass, yet Ms. Ende' has left enough of the classical structure in place to give the work a familiarity with other works in the same genre.
The words are loosely formed by the chorus and the enunciation is deliberately vague. The chorus itself is made up of a Boys' Chorus, a Womens' Chorus (Soprano and Alto), and a Mens' Chorus (Tenors, Baritones, and Basses).

The Requiem Aeternum is literally, the Eternal Rest in which the soul is called to stop its earthly pursuit and rest now, in the arms of the Almighty.
The Kyrie Eleison is an invocation repeated three times, saying Lord Have Mercy, Christ Have Mercy, Lord Have Mercy
The Dies Irae is an old monastic chant of many verses, among which the soul is warned of the approaching days of wrath.
The Sanctus is an invocation stating Holy Holy Holy, Lord God Almighty.
The Agnus Dei is the chant, Lamb Of God Who Take Away The Sins Of The World, Have Mercy On Us.
The Benedictus is a great Blessing and Amen to the dead and the participants of the mass. All are blessed before leaving the church and reentering the real world.
As in all of her other works, Michelle Ende' has created an atmosphere of both beauty and sacred mysticism. Her use of space allows the music and voice to reverberate against and amongst themselves.

The Requiem Mass was performed in St. Athanasia's Cathedral. The Orchestra was seated at the foot of the altar, while the Boys' Choir was positioned at the back of the church in the upper balcony. The Women's Chorus was placed to the rear of the orchestra in the tabernacle area, while the Men's Chorus was split between the left and right Antiphonal Balconies to the left and right of the Altar, and above the orchestra.
This particular placement of the voices allowed them to "hover" over the music, instead of rising through it. This was done in acknowledgement of the old antiphonal call and response which resonated through the length and breadth of the cathedral.
The text is performed in Latin in accordance with the Roman Catholic Liturgy.