Hohe Stimme (Lux aeterna )

I began work on An American Requiem in 2016, following the tragic mass shooting at an Orlando nightclub that claimed the lives of dozens of innocent victims. In the wake of the widespread gun violence at that time, many choral societies programmed performances of the Mozart, Fauré, and Verdi Requiems to honor the victims and offer consolation to distressed communities. While I greatly admire these masterworks, I felt the United States was in need of its own monumental work—a large-scale piece in English—to offer comfort to listeners from diverse backgrounds.

An American Requiem is a setting of the traditional Requiem text in English for soloists, choir, and organ. It is a fusion of styles—Gospel, Romanticism, Pop, Serialism, and Renaissance counterpoint—designed to convey an accessible message of hope in times of pain and darkness. Excerpts of the work were premiered in 2017 at the historic Convent Avenue Baptist Church in Harlem, under the direction of Gregory Hopkins. In 2021, a revised version of the piece saw excerpts performed virtually to commemorate victims of the COVID-19 pandemic. The complete work premiered live in April 2022 at the Herz Jesu Kirche, performed by students from the University for Performing Arts Graz.

The piece is dedicated to all victims of senseless violence. May they have eternal rest.

The soprano aria is particularly suited for funerals, memorials, and worship services.