Which do you like better: Berlioz' "Requiem," or Mozart's "Requiem?"?

Question

I love Mozart in general partly because his intellect allowed him to compose right out of his head. The numbers of compositions was and is astounding. His "Requiem" is very moving, but I find I stop listening once "his" part in the composition is over.

Berlioz' "Requiem" is awesome. I must have blared the third movement out of my house and car windows a hundred times. Who am I trying to impress? Who knows? But when the heavens open and the brass are sounding, y' just gotta share it with someone. Right? LOL! Even if they go, "Eww, what is that?" HaHaHaHaHa......... Poor souls. Undoubtly stuck in the second millenium's cacophony of sounds they loosely call "music." Ack. To me, the only good, culture changing musicians of recent years were the Beatles and Prince. Otherwise, it all sounds the same. Or maybe I'm just getting old.......................... Y' think?

For those who have NOT heard Berlioz' Requiem, try to catch a live performance. If you can't, get it on CD. It involves a large orchestra supplemented by 4 brass sections seated away from the main orchestra, numerous tympani, and a full chorus.

The brass sections announce the opening of the heavens from the 4 cardinal directions (N,S,E,W) and by golly you won't miss it!!!!!!!! Third movement. A "must hear!"

Answer 1

Aw, c’mon! Are Mozart and Berlioz my ONLY choices?

I have been a choral singer (Bass II) for 30 years, and, with the exception of the Karl Jenkins, I have had the pleasure of singing every Requiem mentioned by the respondents as of this posting – some, such as the Mozart, a few times, and a couple of others not mentioned, namely the Dvorak, Faure and Rutter. In fact, my chorus has developed a not entirely welcome reputation among choral singers in the community for being the “Requiem specialists.”

This is a tough question to answer, not just because it goes to matters of taste, but because each of these composers' Requiems probes humankind’s most universal of questions – what is the meaning of death and what becomes of us mortal beings after it. They explore this fundamental existential question in profoundly personal ways through a medium that, in my opinion, is unsurpassed among the various forms of artistic expression in its ability to reach the core of our being. And when you have the opportunity to actually sing these works, the experience of them can be rapturous. It doesn't get much more personal than that!

What can one say about the Mozart Requiem? The insightful comments made here speak to its power, and to the genius of a composer whose gift has given humankind the most beautiful and inspired musical works ever to leap from the imagination. The contrast between the Mozart and the Berlioz in form and mood is striking, with Berlioz’ contribution being no less valued for the difference. As Lynn has noted, the technical demands on the soloists of both compositions are formidable.

Alex, you are right as well about the Webber. While not in the top tier of my personal favorites, the work is musically an enormously challenging and creditable contemporary treatment of the subject. And the Sarah Brightman performance…well, as we men are known to comment (please forgive): “Hubba, hubba!”

Some stuffy classical music aficionados and critics unfairly characterize the Webber as “kitschy” because of the eclipsing popularity of his other choral blockbusters: “Jesus Christ Superstar,” “Evita!,” “Cats” and “Phantom of the Opera” etc. And, truth to tell, if you hear the Webber Requiem, there will be no doubt about who composed it. It has signature Webber themes throughout. The Pie Jesu is probably the best known and most intimate of its sections.

Lynn and Nancy (caneartist), thank you for the discerning comments you have shared about the Berlioz. Your observations have illustrated how, in the hands of a great composer, this art form is able like no other to reach into the core of us and evoke both powerful feelings and probative insights.

And finally, to Muse, I predict you will be utterly transformed after performing the Brahms!

Yes, of them all, for sheer soul-stirring, sublime musical beauty and power, the "Ein deutsches Requiem" is my most favorite.

Thank you for asking this question. Best to all of you!

Answer 2

Mozart's Requiem is by far a much better piece of music than Berlioz's. Berlioz's is just too bombastic for my taste. It has all the subtlety of an 18-wheeler.

Try listening to the Requiems of John Rutter, Healey Willian, and Maurice Durufle, not to mention those of Faure, Brahams, and Verdi.

Answer 3

I'm ashamed to say that I've not yet heard Berlioz' Requiem. I'll definitely be searching for a recording of it soon, though.

While we're on the topic of Requiems, though, I really enjoy Mozart's Requiem. It remains one of my favorite works. However, my favorite Requiem is Britten's War Requiem. There's just something about it that's always appealed to me.

Brahms' Requiem is also a favorite. My choir is preparing for a performance of the full Brahms Requiem next semester. It's going to be amazing.

Answer 4

For my part I haven't heard of Berlioz's Requiem or Berlioz himself either :p

But yes, I do love Mozart's Requiem, also his Mass in C Minor is also wonderful.

If you'd like a change, try the Andrew Lloyd Webber requiem. Brightman in her young days is just heavenly, not these days when she sings like... umm you can't describe or compare it since no one sings like her XD

Verdi's is, in my opinion, perhaps the greatest of the requiem mass :)

A shame there aren't many modern classical composers to be writing music for the requiem mass anymore :(

Answer 5

from a singers point of viewit's a difficult choice. One the one hand, it's Mozart, with all the concentration it takes to get that crystal clarity in your sound that works best for his music.
On the other hand, it's Berlioz and you can almost rock out on it, it's so full to bursting. A Lacrymosa that dances? ( Harks back to his Symphonie Fantastique and the Dance of Death, huh?) The absolute technique(and, we'll say nerve, since the other adjective will be deleted) that the tenor needs to get through the Sanctus. The brass at the four corners of the world! Our concert hall didn't offer the possibility of seating them so far away from the conductor, so they were lined up outside and around the violins on one side and the double basses on the other. During the rehearsals the poor string players were nearly doubled over in their effort to get away from the sound ( pulled themselves together for the performances and sat up straight, but you could tell what effort it cost them) while the rest of us indulged in goosebumps.
No, I can't pick a favorite, sorry. You gotta love both or neither.

Answer 6

:) caneartist.

Both are really good. Mark of genius in both.

I really hesitate to do a preference between both pieces,
how do we actually choose between an arm and a leg? Both are great and important pieces to different groups of people with different tastes.

Perhaps one may prefer another on a different set of mood.
For me, haha

yes...Mozart's Requiem :) *winks*

Some things can't be explained unless we do the science in depth, there have been scientific researches to show why Mozart's Requiem is a mark of genius.

Ironic to say, though I really Mozart's Requiem, it is near the beginning of the piece which I felt the most powerful forces churning inside me, the magic seems to wear off near the end of the piece.

Frankly speaking, I think there might be more than one composer involved even in those pieces that are credited totally to him in this composition, but who am I to speak but only from the music which entered my heart. *smiles*

Great music should be appreciated when one's mood is best attuned to the setting it is most affixed for, isn't it so ? :)

caneartist, lolz, you are not getting old, you have a great intellectual which is everlasting :) Culture changes things, let us belong to the culture we most belong to and enjoy.

Billionaires of people in the world, you and I are special in our own ways to define our own music :)

I only wish that my love will come back to me...her voice is the greatest music in my heart...no Requiems can overshadow that :)

Perhaps you felt that too, music in a person's voice, someone you love.

Mozart's genius though great, in his Requiem, is amazingly sad yet motivating...it is like "The Power of Lost is the energy to come back like a Phoniex bringing back the Kingdom of Hope back into our lives" to those who heard it.

That which crashes and burn will be reborn into a greater power once again. so is that of life as I hope...

can it be ?

Answer 7

I know what you mean. The good old days are any time that seemed simpler or better. For us, that could mean the 50's, or childhood, or last week. But you are right, there was no time in human history that was perfect, that we can look back on as something being entirely good. We like parts and pieces of "The Good Old Days". People often end up ignoring that those bad things ever happened. In this one instance, I think it is a case of collective optimism for the past, of focusing on the good rather than the bad (which I think runs contrary to human nature in most other respects).

Answer 8

This Site Might Help You.

RE:
Which do you like better: Berlioz' "Requiem," or Mozart's "Requiem?"?
I love Mozart in general partly because his intellect allowed him to compose right out of his head. The numbers of compositions was and is astounding. His "Requiem" is very moving, but I find I stop listening once "his" part in the composition is over.

Berlioz'...

Answer 9

I can't believe I asked this question 8 years ago! This weekend, my husband is conduction Hayden's Requiem for Lord Nelson. I will have to compare and contrast all of those now.

Answer 10

I like some of both Requiems, but for me the best Requiem ever is the one composed by Karl Jenkins!