for mixed choir (SSAATTBB) a cappella
Text: Latin (Roman Catholic Burial Service)
Duration: 4'30''
Difficulty: 3/5
Use: General, Funeral/Memorial, All Souls Day, Lent/Holy Week

Composer's note
In Paradisum sets a prayer from the Roman Catholic Burial Service which has often been used as a movement in settings of the Requiem Mass. The opening ‘Requiem’ section emerges calmly from silence and builds in texture until the entry of the sopranos, who sing the first verse as a tender and reflective song in two parts accompanied by the remaining choir: the AATTBB parts should aim for a smooth and uninterrupted vocalised sound. The repeat of this section should be a little louder and more passionate. The second half of the work is scored for full choir and is joyous and majestic. As the music subsides on the words ‘aeternam habeas’, careful tuning of the low pitched and densely spaced chords is required. It is preferable for the first tenors to move into the final ‘requiem’ section without a break – staggered breathing may be required here. Mirroring the opening of the work, the final chord should diminuendo to nothing, as far as possible.

Text
In paradisum deducant Angeli; in tuo adventu suscipiant te martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem. Chorus angelorum te suscipiat, et cum Lazaro quondam paupere, aeternam habeas requiem.

May angels lead you to paradise; at your coming may the martyrs receive you and lead you to the holy city of Jerusalem. May the chorus of angels receive you, and with Lazarus, once a poor man, may you have eternal rest.

from the Roman Catholic Burial Service

Ian Carpenter
Ian leads a busy double life as an engineer and a composer, having studied engineering at the University of Durham and composition at the University of Bristol. He is an active choral singer with the Bristol-based chamber choir Exultate Singers and has written numerous works for a range of forces. His anthem Blessed are all they that fear the Lord was broadcast on BBC Radio 4 and May the road rise up to meet you was featured on BBC 1’s Songs of Praise. Two of his carols, Dormi Jesu and Deck the hall were recorded by City of Bristol Choir for their debut CD, Realms of Glory, released in 2013. Recent commissions include The St Mary Redcliffe Mass for the Occasional Choir of St Mary Redcliffe Parish Church, Bristol and upcoming premieres include a new setting of the Magnificat and Nunc Dimittis, written for the lay clerks of Bristol Cathedral.