War Requiem cover

War Requiem

Benjamin Britten · 1963

81 min · 19 tracks · classical music

A powerful fusion of orchestral grandeur and poignant vocal expressions addressing the horrors of war and loss.

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Top tracks — play these first

  • →
    War Requiem, op. 66: I. Requiem aeternam: What passing bells for these who die as cattle? — This track embodies the album's central theme, using Owen's poignant imagery to critique the dehumanizing nature of war.
  • →
    War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Move him into the sun — The emotional intensity peaks here, where the music expresses deep sorrow while confronting mortality, showcasing Britten's masterful orchestration.
  • →
    War Requiem, op. 66: VI. Libera me: It seemed that out of battle I escaped — This track merges haunting choral harmonies with reflective text, emphasizing themes of survival and the desire for peace amidst chaos.

Elevation

Our rating, out of 100 — and why.

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

82 /100
Summit
Higher than 100% of albums we've rated

Britten's War Requiem masterfully blends orchestral and vocal elements to create a profound commentary on war.

What we noticed

  • The work integrates orchestral music with choral and solo vocal elements, alternating between the Latin Mass and Wilfred Owen's poetry.
  • Each section of the Requiem is divided into multiple movements, creating a complex structure that contrasts solemnity with moments of intense emotional expression.
  • The orchestration features a large ensemble, including strings, brass, and woodwinds, which dynamically shift in intensity throughout the piece.
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
9/10

whether it sounds like itself

Sequencing 12% of the score
7/10

running order, pacing, length

Influence 6/10

Significant within its genre. 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.

Is this for you?

Good fit if you like

  • haunting emotional reflections
  • immersive orchestral storytelling
  • thoughtful contemplation of loss
  • cathartic moments of release
  • profound engagement with themes

Maybe skip if you

  • seeking upbeat, lively tracks
  • prefer short, standalone pieces

Where this album fits

In the catalog
Breakthrough — This album established Britten's reputation as a leading composer post-WWII.
Career context
Upon its release in 1963, War Requiem was Benjamin Britten's response to the devastation of World War II, marking a significant point in his career as one of Britain's leading composers. This work came after Britten's earlier successes like Peter Grimes (1945) and established him not only as a composer but also as a socially conscious artist reflecting on the human condition.
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Tracklist

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

Disc 1

  • 1 War Requiem, op. 66: I. Requiem aeternam: Requiem aeternam 5:57
  • 2 War Requiem, op. 66: I. Requiem aeternam: What passing bells for these who die as cattle? 3:38
  • 3 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Dies irae 3:37
  • 4 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Bugles sang, saddening the evening air 2:34
  • 5 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Liber scriptus proferetur 2:57
  • 6 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Out there, we've walked quite friendly up to Death 1:57
  • 7 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Recordare Jesu pie 4:30
  • 8 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Be slowly lifted up 2:10
  • 9 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Confutatis 1:11
  • 10 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Lacrimosa dies illa 1:54
  • 11 War Requiem, op. 66: II. Dies irae: Move him into the sun 4:50
  • 12 War Requiem, op. 66: III. Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe 3:30
  • 13 War Requiem, op. 66: III. Offertorium: So Abram rose, and clave the wood 6:08

Disc 2

  • 1 War Requiem, op. 66: IV. Sanctus: Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus 6:06
  • 2 War Requiem, op. 66: IV. Sanctus: After the blast of lightning from the East 3:50
  • 3 War Requiem, op. 66: V. Agnus Dei: One ever hangs where shelled roads part 3:40
  • 4 War Requiem, op. 66: VI. Libera me: Libera me, Domine 7:36
  • 5 War Requiem, op. 66: VI. Libera me: It seemed that out of battle I escaped 9:33
  • 6 War Requiem, op. 66: VI. Libera me: Let us sleep now / In Paradisum 5:33

What to play next

Rejoice in the Lamb / Missa brevis / A Ceremony of Carols
Listen next

Rejoice in the Lamb / Missa brevis / A Ceremony of Carols

1965

Continues themes of spirituality and choral expression with rich orchestral textures.
Partsongs / Hymn To The Virgin / Missa Brevis
Go back to

Partsongs / Hymn To The Virgin / Missa Brevis
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