»Requiem«
by
Mikis Theodorakis
After »Kassiani« (1942) and »Holy Mass« (1982), I composed last year the »Requiem«.
The musical language that I used for this work is completely different from the one used for the two previous ones. I believed that the introduction of the female voice - as a soloist - and the sound of the children's choir were necessary.
The contrast of the young voices, as an aggressive presence of life towards death helps us to pass over the vise of an inevitable phenomenon.
The text belongs to John Damaskinos. It is one of the most important intellectual, philosophical and poetic achievements and helps us to find the real dimensions in the world order of the things.
It invites us to delve into ourselves in order to find »the light that burns« and the real and deep meaning of the human being.
I
dedicate this symphony to the dead of the battle of Kalavrita.
© Mikis Theodorakis (1985)