Paul Carr

The Light of Love

The Light of Love - A Requiem Mass for mixed voice choir with soprano saxophone, violoncello, harp and organ.
Commissioned by Ken & Stella Palmer to celebrate their 15th wedding anniversary, this second Requiem by Paul Carr uses the standard Latin Requiem text with additional words by Euan Tait.

Having already composed Requiem for an Angel in 2006 (now one of my most frequently performed works), it was a little daunting thinking about starting a second Requiem, and especially so, during the Coronavirus Lockdown period in 2020; although, I should add that this, in fact, kept me occupied and I found myself relishing the creative process, even though writing a Mass for the Dead during such a troubled time in the world. After initially talking through the project with Ken and Stella, I learned that their most favoured Requiem was the Mozart, a work they've both sung many times, and that gave me the key to starting, in using the Mozart as a model; in some movements I have used harmonic and thematic structures from the Mozart as a basis for my own. It was also Ken and Stella's wish that I use my Air for Strings (which they often hear played on Classic FM) for the Agnus Dei. The commission was for choir and organ, with soprano saxophone and cello, but I also added in a harp, creating I feel, a rather beautiful quartet of instruments. I've always loved Euan Tait's words and his emotional response to the Requiem texts have been the most vital part in creating this substantial, though intimate Requiem; and this being my second, we decided upon a different title, The Light of Love, as ‘light' and ‘love' are the two most prevalent themes in this work. Paul Carr

Duration 55 minutes
The Vocal Score, an A4 sized Study Score, an A3 sized Full Score and the set of instrumental parts are on sale.
All material is also available on hire from Goodmusic.
(The audio file gives excerpts of each of the 13 movements)