Messa da Requiem (Bottesini)

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Messa da Requiem
by Giovanni Bottesini
BottesiniTestore.jpg
Giovanni Bottesini in c. 1865
with his double bass
PeriodRomantic
Composed1877 (1877)
Duration65 minutes
Movements7
ScoringChorus, vocal soloists, and orchestra

Messa da Requiem is a work for vocal soloists, choir, and orchestra by Giovanni Bottesini. The work runs sixty-five minutes. [1]

Contents

Background

In 1877, Giovanni Bottesini wrote the requiem was following the death of his brother, Luigi. The work was premiered in Capuchin chapel in Cairo where Bottesini was the conductor of the opera company. The first complete performance was on 24 March 1880 in the Teatro Regio in Turin. [2]

Form

The work contains seven movements: [3]

  1. Requiem aeternam - Adagio
  2. Dies irae - Allegro
  3. Offertorio: Domine Jesu - Andantino
  4. Sanctus - Allegro
  5. Benedictus - Andantino con moto
  6. Agnus Dei - Andante
  7. Libra me - Andante, allegro

Instrumentation

The concerto is written for soprano, alto, tenor, and bass soloists in addition to a choir and orchestra consisting of piccolo, two flutes, two oboes, two clarinets, two bassoons, four horns, four trumpets, timpani, bass drum, cymbals, organ, and strings. [3]

References

  1. "BOTTESINI Messa da Requiem". Gramophone. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  2. "REVIEW: BOTTESINI Messa da Requiem 8.572994 [RB]: Classical Music Reviews - February 2013 MusicWeb-International". www.musicweb-international.com. Retrieved 2025-06-02.
  3. 1 2 Lodispoto, Terenzio Sacchi. "Giovanni Bottesini - Messa da Requiem, a quattro voci reali con cori e grande orchestra, BOT 20". www.flaminioonline.it (in Italian). Retrieved 2025-06-02.