Having completed the work shortly after the events of the 2001 September 11 attacks , Rouse , after much personal deliberation , elected not to dedicate the Requiem to the victims of the attacks . In the program notes , Rouse commented : Mark Swed of the '' Los Angeles Times '' lavished the Requiem with praise , declaring it " the first great traditional American Requiem " and called it " a Requiem of wondrous mixed emotions . " George Grella of the '' New York Classical Review '' called the piece " fascinating , massive , ungainly , often moving , sometimes unhinged : if not a completely successful composition , at least an impressive showcase for musicians and composer ’s craft alike . " Corinna Da Fonseca-Wollheim of '' The New York Times '' praised the New York City premiere , saying , " The predominant mood of Mr. Rouse ’s ' Requiem ' is one of uncomprehending grief and fury almost as if , bereft of faith , it were mourning the death of consolation itself . But then there are glimpses of hope . Mr. Imbrailo ’s limpid and smoothly flowing rendition of Jonson ’s ' Farewell , thou child of my right hand ' was joined by a fleeting , radiant flute solo . And when the Brooklyn Youth Chorus entered with the Marian hymn ' Es ist ein Ros entsprungen , ' sung with a gleaming , pure sound from a side balcony , the effect was powerfully emotional , even as it skirted the fine line between pathos and kitsch . " Barry Bassis of '' The Epoch Times '' said of the same performance , " Rouse ’s splendid work deserved the standing ovation at the end , proving that audiences are receptive to modern works that are this well crafted and performed . " At the New York City premiere , conductor Alan Gilbert said of the Requiem , " This work goes farther or comes from deeper in him than almost any other piece of his . It takes a lot out of you both technically but emotionally as well . " Rouse himself said of the piece , " All of that was to try to put across the idea of facing death , whether you 're facing it yourself or if you 're going on after the death of a loved one . But it is a very personal work and I think it 's the best work I 've composed . "
September 11 attacks
September 11 attacks
Requiem (Rouse)