Composed in loving memory of dear friend Neil Dellar, who passed away suddenly on September 3, 2020, Requiem is Dehlinger’s partial setting of the Latin Mass for the dead, or Missa pro defunctis, for mixed chorus, soprano and bass-baritone soloists, and orchestra.

Dehlinger wrote it with the beautiful voices of Choralis, the Washington, DC-area chorus under the direction of Gretchen Kuhrmann, soprano Danielle Talamantes, and bass-baritone Kerry Wilkerson in mind. All were near and dear to Neil, a corporate lawyer with a splendid baritone voice who was active on the board of Choralis.

A standard rendition lasts about 33 minutes and is comprised of seven movements. Six include settings of traditional Latin texts from the Roman Missal: I. Introit, II. Kyrie, III. Offertory, IV. Sanctus, V. Agnus Dei, and VII. In paradisum. While inspired by its many great predecessors, Dehlinger decided to use a fresh and contemporary compositional style, while preserving the sacred and liturgical purpose of the text.

Requiescat in pace, Neil.