(lat.)nach den Anfangsworten der kath. Totenmesse benanntes Musikstück (Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine. 'Gib ihnen ewigen Frieden, Herr.'). Bekannte R.-Kompositionen schrieben u.a. Scarlatti, Haydn, Mozart (unvollendet), Berlioz, Verdi, Dvorák.
ETYM Acc. of Latin requies rest, the first words of the Mass beinggive eternal rest to them, O lord; pref. re- re + quies quiet. Related to Quiet, Requin.
1. A mass said or sung for the repose of a deceased person.
2. Any grand musical composition, performed in honor of a deceased person.