Requiem

or req·ui·em

[ rek-wee-uhm, ree-kwee-, rey- ]

noun

1. Roman Catholic Church.
   1. Also called Requiem Mass. the Mass celebrated for the repose of the souls of the dead.
   2. a celebration of this Mass.
   3. a plainsong setting for this Mass.
2. any musical service, hymn, or dirge for the repose of the dead.

Requiem

/ ˈrɛkwɪˌɛm /

noun

1. RC Church a Mass celebrated for the dead
2. a musical setting of this Mass
3. any piece of music composed or performed as a memorial to a dead person or persons

Requiem

1. In music, a Mass for one or more dead persons, containing biblical passages and prayers for the admission of the dead to heaven . The term has been loosely applied to other musical compositions in honor of the dead. A German Requiem by Johannes Brahms , for example, uses texts from the Bible (see also Bible ) but is not a Mass.

Word History and Origins

Origin of Requiem¹

First recorded in 1275–1325; Middle English, from Latin, accusative of requiēs ”rest” (the first word of the introit of the mass for the dead); re- ( def ), quiet ( def )

Word History and Origins

Origin of Requiem¹

C14: from Latin requiēs rest, from the opening of the introit, Requiem aeternam dona eis Rest eternal grant unto them

Example Sentences

In addition to his 10 studio albums and two original operas, just this year his first musical, “Opening Night,” debuted in London’s West End, and his “Dream Requiem” for chorus and orchestra premiered in Paris.

From Los Angeles Times

“Requiem for a Heavyweight,” originally made for television and later a film, hit themes of age and brain damage.

From Los Angeles Times

It interweaves the traditional Latin text of the Requiem Mass with the anti-war poetry of soldier Wilfred Owen, who was killed a week before the Armistice.

From BBC

In her album opener, "American Requiem," Beyoncé sang about this experience of alienation from the country world.

From Salon

This tour de force contains an hour’s worth of haunting, intertwining phrases that feel like a combination of Requiem and Kaddish.

From Los Angeles Times