May the Angels Lead You Into Paradise

In light of All Soul’s Day, on November 2nd, I chose to listen to a favorite piece of music: “In Paradism” from Gabriel Faure’s (1845-1924) Requiem in D minor. This was performed by Choir Konzertverein Bern, the Berne Chamber Orchestra, and conducted by Agata Mazukiewicz. The “In Paradisum” [In Paradise] is one movement, and always the last movement, of a Requiem Mass, which is the Catholic Mass for the Dead. This movement focuses on the angels welcoming the dead into Paradise. The text is as follows:

In Paradisum deducant angeli

In tuo adventu, suscipiat te martyres Et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat Et cum Lazaro, quondam paupere Aeternam habeas requiem.

As the sopranos sing, “May angels lead you into paradise,” the organ plays three notes up and down several times. The sopranos sing a legato melody, which exhibits the peace of angels leading the dead into paradise. There is no ground bass, so this movement begins light and beautiful. The sopranos then sing “Upon your arrival, may the martyrs receive you,” and the highest note is heard on the word “martyrs,” to denote their presence in Heaven. “And lead you into Jerusalem” - The sopranos sing a sequence based on three notes which sounds expectant of something. The expectance ends with the word “Jerusalem,” as the other three voices join in singing beautiful harmonies that resolve with the third repetition of “Jerusalem.”

Once again, the sopranos are heard alone at “May the ranks of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, the poor man...” This last phrase is repeated to bring in the force of the next, and most important, statement: “May you have eternal rest.” All voice parts join in at “requiem,” or, “rest.” The sopranos repeat this phrase, embodying once again the angels in heaven. On the last pianissimo “requiem,” the entire choir ends homophonically on a long held D major chord.

It is interesting to note that Faure’s Requiem is in D minor, which is appropriate for a solemn Mass for the dead; however, the “In Paradisum” is in D major. This shift from a minor to a major mode directly correlates with the change in subject matter of the Requiem. Whereas the previous movements focus on death and judgement, this last movement portrays eternity and the sublime and beautiful passage into Heaven.

Faure’s Requiem will always be one of the most beautiful pieces of music and is surely a joy to listen to on All Soul’s Day.