Listening Recommendations: Britten's War Requiem

I quite like this work by Benjamin Britten. Personally, I don't listen to much classical music because I have short attention spans (I suppose many of you must feel that way too, haha).

Thing is, a good portion of this massive work - requiring two orchestras, three soloists, a boys choir and an organ - is set to English. Wilson Owen's poems were set to music, which juxtaposes the traditional Latin text, also sung in the work. The musical effects are very dramatic, as well. Church bells, church organ, boys choir singing sacred Latin text, soprano, baritone and tenor solos... You get the idea.

This work was composed relatively recently, from 1961-1962. Within five months of the first recording released over 200,000 copies were sold, a first for an album featuring contemporary classical work. The album won Britten THREE Grammy's in 1963, for Classical Album, Best Classical Performance - Choral (other than Opera) and Best Classical Composition by a Contemporary Composer.

I've embedded in this post, the recordings for the last (sixth) movement. It is (unfortunately) broken into three videos. However, they are broken according to the starts and endings of the sung text. Interestingly, I don't find the music compromised at all. So, take your time to listen to them.

OK, now go listen!