Gabriel Fauré (1845–1924) began work on his Requiem purely 'for the pleasure of it', although it was quite probably composed in response to the recent death of his father. The subsequent passing of his mother shortly after its first performance gives the work an added poignancy, not least since the Requiem was an evolving work which Fauré continued to revise from its inception in 1887 until the first published version of 1900. In its sequence of movements the Requiem departs significantly from the standard liturgical text. Fauré does not underline the terrors of the Day of Judgement, and specifically includes the response In Paradisum from the Burial Service. Consequently, the prevailing mood is one of peacefulness and serenity. This Full Score and instrumental parts is the new arrangement for string quintet and organ by Michael Higgins. By using the chamber music quality of the strings, unique colours and textures are created which breathe new life into an otherwise familiar but continually evolving work. The Vocal Score and a CD of this edition (recorded by Convivium Singers, conducted by Neil Ferris) are available to purchase from RSCM Music Direct.