Posted October 28, 2024

The Cathedral Basilica and the Archdiocesan Choirs of Philadelphia will be performing movements from the Duruflé Requiem at the 12:05 p.m. Mass on Saturday, Nov. 2 at the Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul.

Composed by French organist and composer Maurice Duruflé in 1947, the choral work presents the solemnity of a Catholic funeral Mass in mixed polyphonic voices based on Gregorian chant, or plainsong, accompanied by organ.

In Duruflé’s notes, he explains that his Requiem “is not an ethereal work which sings of detachment from earthly worries. It reflects, in the immutable form of the Christian prayer, the agony of man faced with the mystery of his ultimate end.”

For him, the work’s final movement In Paradisum marks “the ultimate answer of faith to all the questions by the flight of the soul to paradise.”

All are welcome to join the choirs for this opportunity of communal remembrance as we commemorate the faithful departed in November.

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul is located at 18th Street and the Benjamin Franklin Parkway in Philadelphia.