Beveridge, Thomas
Title |
Time |
Play |
| Yizkor Requiem | 53:31 | ▼ |
| I. Readers Kaddish | 04:56 | |
| II. Requiem Aeternam | 15:12 | |
| III. Psalm 23 | 03:20 | |
| IV. Remember! | 05:39 | |
| V. Offertory | 02:19 | |
| VI. Sanctification | 05:05 | |
| VII. El male rachamim | 07:19 | |
| VIII. Lux Aeterna | 03:36 | |
| IX. Justorum Animae | 06:01 | |
| X. Mourners Kaddish & Lord's Prayer | 10:57 |
Yizkor Requiem: A Quest for Spiritual Roots
Much performed and widely acclaimed since its 1994 premiere, Yizkor Requiem—A Quest for Spiritual Roots is a unique ecumenical cantata that juxtaposes and interweaves elements of the traditional memorial services of Judaism and Christianity—many of whose words derive from a common source. Added to these are excerpts from Hebrew weekday and holy day liturgies, Psalms, and classic Christian supplications with universal application as well as Judaic roots—such as the Lord's Prayer. The interdependence of Church and Synagogue in the early years of Christianity is exemplified by the title.
Yizkor Requiem illustrates musically—through vibrant melodies, exciting rhythms, and soulstirring vocal expression—some of the shared themes of these two great Western religions and rituals. In the words of its composer, the work "stands on the Sacred Bridge between them, and shows that in many ways the two faiths—and the two liturgies—express the same hopes and fears and ideas."
Reviews and Recognitions:
"...splendid work....the various musical influences blend into a very persuasive whole, without falling into pastiche. It flows through its one hour with momentum and a sense of organic growth. The final section, combining the Kaddish with the Lord's Prayer, is extraordinarily moving. This is music that would appeal to a broad and ecumenical audience, particularly with its interfaith approach of paying tribute to those who have died. It is brilliantly performed here." —Henry Fogel, Symphony
"There was not a single moment of this score that did not hold me in its thrall. Words are hard to come by to describe the ravishing beauty of this music. It is late 20th-century American modern, which is to say it is as Romantically luxuriant as anything written in the first decades of the 20th century.... If this be a requiem, it is one I am happy to die with." —Jerry Dubins, Fanfare
"...a remembrance to remember." —Philip Greenfield, American Record Guide