Kyrie (from Requiem), Op. 16

Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K. 626, is one of his most famous works. It was commissioned by Count Franz von Walsegg and left unfinished at Mozart's death in 1791. The Requiem was completed by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr and is known for its profound emotional depth and complex choral and orchestral writing. The 'Kyrie' movement is a double fugue featuring intricate counterpoint and urgent, pleading motifs, contributing to the work's solemn and intense character.

This piece marks my sixteenth major work, a string quartet version of the 'Kyrie' movement. It emphasises the solemn and intense nature by retaining its double fugue structure and most of the choral parts.