The term “requiem” is pronounced as “ruh-kwee-em”. It is a noun that refers to a mass for the repose of the souls of the dead, or to a musical composition that is typically performed at such a mass. The word is derived from the Latin word “requies”, which means “rest”.
Requiems have been an important part of Christian funeral rites for centuries. The earliest known requiem mass was composed in the 9th century, and the tradition has continued to the present day. Many famous composers have written requiems, including Mozart, Verdi, and Brahms.
