Duruflé's immortal Requiem

Violinist Josef Špacek as 'cantor'

Ralph Vaughan Williams made his breakthrough in 1910 with his Fantasia on a theme by Thomas Tallis. The language of this work for two string orchestras and a "solo" string quartet is notable for its combination of Debussy and Palestrina (who was slightly younger than Tallis). In the 1921 Concerto gregoriano, Ottorino Respighi drew inspiration from ancient Gregorian chant. Josef Špacek is the soloist in this violin concerto, like an instrumental cantor in a religious ceremony.

Requiem by Duruflé a tad different

Maurice Duruflé, as enigmatic as the final chord of his Requiem, created a modest oeuvre. Organ works and this Requiem made him immortal. In a correspondence with Leo van Doesel's father-in-law Wieke Jordans, Duruflé responded enthusiastically to the latter's suggestion that some sections be sung by boy sopranos.