The technique of placing English poetry with fragments of the Latin, often sung simultaneously or antiphonally between soloist and choir, characterises the whole work. One section of Latin text comes not from the Requiem mass but from the Book of Revelation, with its description of the coming of the Angels of the Apocalypse. The Recordare movement combines with Phineas Fletcher’s early-17 th century sacred poem Drop, drop, slow tears. Other texts are drawn from Francis Quarles, Mary Elizabeth Frye and Ann Thorp. EMI Classics is proud to release Eternal Light: A Requiem, a new work by the award-winning British composer and internationally acclaimed broadcaster, Howard Goodall. Goodall’s unusual setting of the liturgical service is performed by Christ Church Cathedral Choir, Oxford and London Musici conducted by Stephen Darlington with soloists Natasha Marsh, Alfie Boe and Christopher Maltman. Deinde secundus angelus clanxit, et quasi mons magnus igne ardens projectus est in mare: factaque est tertia pars maris sanguis. Et mortua est tertia pars creaturarum quæ erant in mari, animantia dico, et tertia pars navium periit.

Tum angelus tertius clanxit, et cecidit e cœlo stella magna, ardens velut lampas, ceciditque in tertiam partem fluminum, et in fontes aquarum. Nomen autem stellæ dicitur Absinthium: versa est igitur tertia pars aquarum in absinthium, et multi homines mortui sunt ex aquis, quod amaræ factæ essent. And the fourth angel blew, and the third part of the sun was smitten and the third part of the moon, and the third part of stars: so that the third part of them was darkened. And the day was smitten that the third part of it should not shine, and likewise the night.And the third angel blew, and there fell a great star from heaven burning as it were a lamp, and it fell into the third part of the rivers, and into fountains of waters, and the name of the star is called Wormwood. And the third part was turned to wormwood. And many men died of the waters because they were made bitter.

And the second angel blew: and as it were a great mountain burning with fire was cast in to the sea, and the third part of the sea turned to blood, and the third part of the creatures which had life, died, and the third part of ships were destroyed. Deinde quartus angelus clanxit, et percussa est tertia pars solis, et tertia pars lunæ, et tertia pars stellarum: ita ut obscuraretur tertia pars eorum, et diei non luceret pars tertia, et noctis similiter. The writing of a Requiem is a special challenge for any composer. The catalogue of mighty predecessors is one thing. Vittoria, Mozart, Verdi, Brahms, Berlioz, Fauré, Dvořák, Duruflé, not to mention the Britten, Ligeti and Lloyd Webber settings in more recent times. I had the additional challenge of conceiving a choral piece that would be danced by the dazzlingly exciting Rambert Dance Company, choreographed by their Artistic Director, Mark Baldwin. In all these verses there is a common theme of compassion for the bereaved. The sacred texts offer everlasting light as an image of resurrection and survival for the departed. I do not seek to contradict the Judaic-Christian faith in life after death, merely to examine it through the prism of our modern experience. And I beheld and heard an angel flying through the midst of heaven, saying with a loud voice: Woe, woe, woe to the inhabitants of the earth because of the voices to come of the trumpet of the three angels which were yet to blow.The first angel blew, and there was made hail and fire, which were mingled with blood, and they were cast in to the earth: and the third part of trees was burnt, and all green grass was burnt.