“Dies irae”. Allegro marcato

“De profundis clamavi”. Adagio

“Dona nobis pacem”. Andante

In 1946 the composer wrote, “I wanted to symbolise the reaction of modern man against the tide of barbarity, stupidity, suffering […] the inner conflict between a surrender to blind forces and the instinct of happiness, the love of peace and feelings of a divine refuge”

Dies irae expresses “the day of wrath, the explosion of strength and of hate which destroys everything and leaves nothing but debris and ruin […].” De profundis “is a plea to a higher force whom one asks for help and to whom one wants to offer what remains of all that is pure and noble at the depth of one’s soul.” “Dona nobis pacem […] there is nothing more insane in civilisation than unbridled barbarity. That is what I wished to express at the start of the third movement.”