Requiem cover

Requiem

Herbert von Karajan · 1987

52 min · 14 tracks · classical music

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Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

AI-generated from five scored dimensions. An opinion, not a measurement.

86 /100
Summit
Higher than 97% of albums we've rated

Strong contrasts between chorus and solo quartet, plus the return of the opening music at the close, give the work a durable shape; this performance is polished but not radically …

What we noticed

  • The choral movements frame a sequence of contrasting solo passages: the quartet in “Recordare” follows the forceful “Rex tremendae,” while “Tuba mirum” hands the line among soloists.
  • The closing “Agnus Dei” leads directly into “Lux aeterna,” which returns the opening music rather than introducing a new ending.
  • The 14 listed tracks follow the movements of the Requiem in order, with no apparent appended bonus material.
Composition 25% of the score
9/10

the writing — melody, harmony, structure, lyrics

Craft 20% of the score
8/10

production, performance, arrangement

Durability 25% of the score
8/10

whether it rewards returning to it

Distinctiveness 18% of the score
6/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
8/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 4/10

Known within its scene. Reported but not counted — how far a record travelled describes its reception rather than the record, and a newer release has had less time to travel than an older one.

Tracklist

Best experienced from track one — press play and let it unfold.

  • 1 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: I. Introitus: “Requiem” (Chor, Sopran) 5:24
  • 2 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: II. “Kyrie” (Chor) 2:40
  • 3 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: III. Sequenz: No. 1. “Dies irae” (Chor) 1:52
  • 4 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: III. Sequenz: No. 2. “Tuba mirum” (Sopran, Alt, Tenor, Bass) 3:53
  • 5 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: III. Sequenz: No. 3. “Rex tremendae” (Chor) 2:20
  • 6 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: III. Sequenz: No. 4. “Recordare” (Sopran, Alt, Tenor, Bass) 5:11
  • 7 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: III. Sequenz: No. 5. “Confutatis” (Chor) 2:23
  • 8 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: III. Sequenz: No. 6. “Lacrimosa” (Chor) 3:10
  • 9 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: IV. Offertorium: No. 1. “Domine Jesu” (Chor, Sopran, Atl, Tenor, Bass) 3:50
  • 10 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: IV. Offertorium: No. 2. “Hostias” (Chor) 4:33
  • 11 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: V. “Sanctus” (Chor) 1:51
  • 12 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: VI. “Benedictus” (Chor, Sopran, Alt, Tenor, Bass) 5:28
  • 13 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: VII. “Agnus Dei” (Chor) 3:39
  • 14 Requiem d-moll, KV 626: VIII. Communio: “Lux aeterna” (Chor, Sopran) 5:50

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Reference: MusicBrainz