Here’s What Our Members Had To Say
What’s your favorite Mozart Requiem movement, passage or phrase & why?
“Lacrimosa. As one member sitting next to me stated, which echoed my heart, when certain chords occur, one feels like we are hearing them in a cathedral.”
-Bev D., Alto
“Domine Jesu is one of my favorites. I love the contrasts in dynamics, and the sing-a-bility of the notes.”
-Brenda G., Soprano
“The Amen has been a challenge and I’ve sung it so many times, I’ve come to really enjoy it!”
-Anonymous, Alto
“The Amen…it flows so elegantly and emotionally”
-Jim D., Bass
“It would be a tie for me between Lacrimosa and Kyrie. Lacrimosa for its simplistic harmonies and the neat phrasing we can achieve through dynamics, and Kyrie because of the intricate fugue-like melody and just being really fun to sing.”
-Amelia W., Alto
“Dies Irae – [it] reminds me of singing in church as a teenager.”
-Syd S., Alto
What do you find most challenging about the Mozart Requiem & why?
“Keeping the ‘runs’ light.”
-Syd S., Alto
“The melismas and the very high notes are the most challenging musically.”
-Brenda G., Soprano
“Hosanna. Just the timing and not really echoing parts like some of the other fugues.”
-Bev D.
“I find myself singing at the very top of my range a lot of times.”
-Amelia W., Alto
“The Hosanna in Sanctus…the notes come fast and furious.”
-Jim D., Bass
“Some of the challenging parts are those that are sung very fast and have A LOT of notes.”
-Anonymous, Alto
Do you prefer the Levin or Sussmayr completion of the Mozart Requiem & why?
“I have never sung the Sussmayr before, but I’ve listened to it, and I have to say I’m really enjoying the Levin. It feels less heavy-handed than the Sussmayr in places and I like the fugues.”
-Amelia W., Alto
“Levin…because of the Amen”
-Jim D., Bass
“Still on the fence about the Amen addition, but the more we work on it, the more it grows on a person. So, I guess Levin. It added a new challenge from when I did it before.”
-Bev D., Alto
“I am enjoying the Levin completion, though I had not sung it before. The Amen has been difficult, but it so beautiful.”
-Brenda G., Soprano
“Undecided! I’ve sung them both and the Sussmayr is easier since it’s more familiar. Still, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed rehearsing Levin.”
-Anonymous, Alto
Which of our other composers or works for this concert are your favorite(s) and why?
“Beethoven—the Hallelujah is magnificent”
-Jim D., Bass
“Hallelujah is my favorite of the other pieces we are singing. The ending, with dramatic rests, is fun to sing.”
-Brenda G., Soprano
“Beethoven. The chords just are majestic.”
-Bev D., Alto
What’s your favorite Mozart work other than the Requiem?
“Mozart’s Ave Verum Corpus, definitely. It’s such a bare, simple, and genius piece. The chord changes are satisfying and the places were the sopranos soar above everyone else give me chills.
That we aren’t singing? His operas Don Giovanni, which has shades of the Requiem in a lot of parts, and Le Nozze Di Figaro.”-Amelia W., Alto
“Ave Verum Corpus”
-Jim D., Bass
“Mozart’s Vespere – Laudate Dominum.
It evokes a warm, melty, and poignant feeling.”-Anonymous, Alto
“Ave Verum Corpus. Have sung it many times, yet it is always wonderful. Never old.”
-Bev D., Alto
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The Longmont Chorale performs, “Requiem: Mozart’s Last Words” on Sunday, March 11, 2018 at 3PM at LifeBridge Christian Church in Longmont. The Chorale and guest soloists are accompanied by instrumentalists from the Longmont Symphony Orchestra.
The Longmont Chorale is a nonprofit Longmont choral group, an SATB choir which performs four major concerts in Longmont each season. Concert tickets and information are both available at LongmontChorale.org/Tickets.
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