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An American Requiem
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An American Requiem (2024)
Edward Tyler (b. 1964)
Traditional Latin Requiem Mass
Additional texts by Edward Tyler
Introit
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Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine:
et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus Deus in Zion, et tibi redetur votum in Jerusalem: Exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis caro veniet. |
Rest eternal grant to them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them. A hymn befits thee, O God, in Zion, and to thee a vow shall be fulfilled in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer, for unto thee all flesh shall come. |
Kyrie
"I Am a Gun"
I am a gun.
I am a gun.
I am a gun.
I do not plow, or cook, or spin.
I do not tend, or teach, or nurture.
I do not dance, or paint, or read, or write,
I do not sculpt, or build, or sing.
I am a gun.
I frighten. I threaten. I wound.
I kill.
"I Am a Gun"
I am a gun.
I am a gun.
I am a gun.
I do not plow, or cook, or spin.
I do not tend, or teach, or nurture.
I do not dance, or paint, or read, or write,
I do not sculpt, or build, or sing.
I am a gun.
I frighten. I threaten. I wound.
I kill.
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Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison, Kyrie eleison. |
Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy, Lord have mercy. |
Sequence
"Legacy"
"I Remember My School"
"I Am Not Enough"
"Legacy"
"I Remember My School"
"I Am Not Enough"
A well regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed.
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Dies irae, dies illa,
Solvet saeclum in favilla: Teste David cum Sibylla. |
Day of wrath, that day
shall dissolve the world into embers, as David prophesied with the Sibyl. |
Twenty-six dead at Sandy Hook.
Twenty of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
Twenty of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
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Quantus tremor est futurus,
Quando judex est venturus, uncta stricte discussurus! |
How great the trembling will be,
hen the Judge shall come, the rigorous investigator of all things! |
Twenty-one dead at Uvalde.
Nineteen of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
Nineteen of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
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Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Per sepulchra regionum. Coget omnes ante thronum. |
The trumpet, spreading its wondrous sound
through the tombs of every land, will summon all before the throne. |
Seventeen dead at Parkland.
Fourteen of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
Fourteen of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
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Mors stupebit, et natura,
Cum resurget creatura, Judicanti responsura. |
Death will be stunned, likewise nature,
when all creation shall rise again to answer the One judging. |
Thirteen dead at Columbine.
Twelve of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
Twelve of them…children.
Shall not be infringed.
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Liber scriptus proferetur,
In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur. |
A written book will be brought forth,
in which all shall be contained, and from which the world shall be judged. |
What is to be our legacy,
When that book is opened?
When that book is opened?
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Judex ergo cum sedebit,
Quid-quid latet apparebit: Nil inultum remanebit. |
When therefore the Judge is seated,
whatever lies hidden shall be revealed: No wrong shall remain unpunished. |
Shall we be judged
By the content of our character,
Or by the innocent bodies at our feet?
By the content of our character,
Or by the innocent bodies at our feet?
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Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus? Cum vix justus sit securus. |
What then am I, poor wretch, going to say?
Which protector shall I ask for, when even the just are scarcely secure? |
I am not enough
But my helplessness
Is no excuse
But my helplessness
Is no excuse
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Rex tremendae majestatis,
Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me fons pietatis. |
King of terrifying majesty,
who freely saves the saved; Save me, fount of pity. |
Five dead at West Nickel Mines
Two dead at Rocori
Four dead at Oxford High
Three dead at Chardon
All of them…children
Shall not be infringed.
Two dead at Rocori
Four dead at Oxford High
Three dead at Chardon
All of them…children
Shall not be infringed.
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Remember, merciful Jesus,
that I am the cause of your sojourn; Do not cast me out on that day. |
Remember, merciful Jesus,
that I am the cause of your sojourn; Do not cast me out on that day. |
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Quaerens me, sedisti lassus:
Redemisti crucem passus: Tantus labor non sit cassus. |
Seeking me, you sat down weary;
having suffered the Cross, you redeemed me. May such great labor not be in vain. |
I remember my schools
Mascots, teachers, faces, stories
From the worn places on the stone stairs
To the echo of an empty stage
These memories are true
Mascots, teachers, faces, stories
From the worn places on the stone stairs
To the echo of an empty stage
These memories are true
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Juste judex ultionis,
Donum fac remissionis, Ante diem rationis Ingemisco, tamquam reus: Culpa rubet vultus meus: Supplicanti parce Deus. |
Just Judge of vengeance,
grant the gift of remission before the day of reckoning. I groan, like one who is guilty; My face blushes with guilt. Spare thy supplicant, O God. |
But I have memories
Of places I’ve never been
Mascots, teachers, faces, stories
Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde, Columbine
Memories of violence that intrude
Mingling with my own Corrupting
Of places I’ve never been
Mascots, teachers, faces, stories
Sandy Hook, Parkland, Uvalde, Columbine
Memories of violence that intrude
Mingling with my own Corrupting
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Qui Mariam absolvisti,
Et latronum exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces meae non sunt dignae: Sed tu bonus fac benigne, Ne perenni cremer igne. Inter oves locum praesta, Et ab haedis me sequestra a Statuens in parte dextra. |
You who absolved Mary,
and heeded the thief, have also given hope to me. My prayers are not worthy, But Thou, good one, kindly grant that I not burn in the everlasting fires. Grant me a favored place among thy sheep, and separate me from the goats, placing me at thy right hand. |
We are made of collective memories
Shared experiences
Laughter, tears, and gasps of joy and pain
They are as much of us as our bones
So tell me…what does that say about us?
Memories of violence, of violence, of violence
What does that say about us?
Shared experiences
Laughter, tears, and gasps of joy and pain
They are as much of us as our bones
So tell me…what does that say about us?
Memories of violence, of violence, of violence
What does that say about us?
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Confutatis maledictis,
Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis. |
When the accursed are confounded,
Consigned to the fierce flames: Call me to be with the blessed. |
Seven dead at Red Lake.
Thirteen dead at Columbine.
Twenty-one dead at Uvalde.
Ten dead in Santa Fe.
Seventeen dead at Parkland.
Six dead in Nashville.
Thirteen dead at Columbine.
Twenty-one dead at Uvalde.
Ten dead in Santa Fe.
Seventeen dead at Parkland.
Six dead in Nashville.
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Oro supplex et acclinis,
Cor contritum quasi cinis: Gere curam mei finis. |
I pray, suppliant and kneeling,
My heart contrite as if it were ashes: Protect me in my final hour. |
Ten dead in Buffalo
And ten more dead in Boulder
Nine dead at Emanuel
And Eleven more at the Tree of Life
Fourteen dead in San Bernardino,
And thirteen more in Binghamton
A dozen dead in Virginia Beach
A dozen more in Aurora
A dozen dead at the Washington Navy Yard
Twenty-six dead at Sandy Hook
Five children dead at West Nile Mines
Four children dead at Oxford High
Two children dead at Rocori
Three children dead at Chardon
Twenty-two dead in Sutherland Springs,
Twenty-three dead in El Paso,
Thirty-two dead at Virginia Tech
Forty-nine dead in Orlando,
Sixty dead in Las Vegas…
I am not enough.
But my helplessness is no excuse.
I am not enough.
I cannot read one more name
I cannot bear one more grief
How can we remember them,
When we cannot even count the dead?
And ten more dead in Boulder
Nine dead at Emanuel
And Eleven more at the Tree of Life
Fourteen dead in San Bernardino,
And thirteen more in Binghamton
A dozen dead in Virginia Beach
A dozen more in Aurora
A dozen dead at the Washington Navy Yard
Twenty-six dead at Sandy Hook
Five children dead at West Nile Mines
Four children dead at Oxford High
Two children dead at Rocori
Three children dead at Chardon
Twenty-two dead in Sutherland Springs,
Twenty-three dead in El Paso,
Thirty-two dead at Virginia Tech
Forty-nine dead in Orlando,
Sixty dead in Las Vegas…
I am not enough.
But my helplessness is no excuse.
I am not enough.
I cannot read one more name
I cannot bear one more grief
How can we remember them,
When we cannot even count the dead?
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Lacrimosa dies illa,
Qua resurget ex favilla, Judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce Deus. |
O how tearful that day,
on which the guilty shall rise from the embers to be judged. Spare them then, O God. |
When pain turns to anger
When fear turns to dread
How can we remember them,
When we cannot even count the dead?
When fear turns to dread
How can we remember them,
When we cannot even count the dead?
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Lacrimosa dies illa,
Qua resurget ex favilla, Judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce Deus. |
O how tearful that day,
on which the guilty shall rise from the embers to be judged. Spare them then, O God. |
I am not enough…
So I must be more.
Lord, who sees all, be my eyes.
Lord, who knows all, be my mind.
How can we remember them,
When we cannot even count the dead?
So I must be more.
Lord, who sees all, be my eyes.
Lord, who knows all, be my mind.
How can we remember them,
When we cannot even count the dead?
Pie Jesu
"I Want to Be"
How can I sing, when the cries are all around me?
How can I learn, when I’m hiding in the dark?
How can I laugh, when I’m running from this chaos?
How can I live?
How can I love?
How can I be?
"I Want to Be"
How can I sing, when the cries are all around me?
How can I learn, when I’m hiding in the dark?
How can I laugh, when I’m running from this chaos?
How can I live?
How can I love?
How can I be?
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Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem.
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Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them rest.
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I want to sing, from a heart that’s full of wonder.
I want to learn, and watch the world unfold.
I want to laugh, and wear my joy forever.
I want to live.
I want to love.
I want to be.
I want to learn, and watch the world unfold.
I want to laugh, and wear my joy forever.
I want to live.
I want to love.
I want to be.
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Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem.
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Merciful Lord Jesus, grant them rest.
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When the cries are all around me.
When I’m hiding in the dark.
When I’m running from this chaos.
Be my voice.
Be my strength.
Be my guide.
To sing, to learn, to laugh, to live, to love.
I want to be.
When I’m hiding in the dark.
When I’m running from this chaos.
Be my voice.
Be my strength.
Be my guide.
To sing, to learn, to laugh, to live, to love.
I want to be.
Offertory
"Exceptional"
"Exceptional"
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Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae
Libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum De poenis inferni et de profundo lacu: Libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, Ne cadant in obscurum |
Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,
liberate the souls of the departed from the pains of Hell and the deep pit; Deliver them from the mouth of the lion; Let not Hell swallow them up; Let them not fall into darkness. |
I have heard, many many times
That this nation is great, is good, is moral, is just.
Not just good, but great.
Not just great, but the greatest.
The greatest nation. The light on the hill.
That this nation is great, is good, is moral, is just.
Not just good, but great.
Not just great, but the greatest.
The greatest nation. The light on the hill.
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Sed signifer sanctus Michael
repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam, Quam olim Abrahae promisisti, et semini ejus. |
But let Michael, the holy standard-bearer,
bring them into the holy light. Which once thou promised to Abraham and his seed. |
But how?
No one is good, no one is great
If they would sacrifice a child for the right to own… anything.
No one is good, no one is great
If they would sacrifice a child for the right to own… anything.
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Hostias et preces tibi, Domine,
laudis offerimus |
Sacrifices and prayers of praise, O Lord,
we offer to thee. |
Take a look at this child.
Your child, my child, any child
Are you so afraid of your neighbor
Afraid of the stranger
Afraid of change
That you will kill this child to own a gun?
Your child, my child, any child
Are you so afraid of your neighbor
Afraid of the stranger
Afraid of change
That you will kill this child to own a gun?
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Tu suscipe pro animabus illis,
quarum hodie memoriam facimus: |
Receive them, Lord, on behalf of those souls
we commemorate this day. |
Take a look at this child.
Your child, my child, any child
Are you so angry at your neighbor
Angry at the stranger
Angry at change
That you will kill this child to own a gun?
Your child, my child, any child
Are you so angry at your neighbor
Angry at the stranger
Angry at change
That you will kill this child to own a gun?
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Fac eas, Domine,
de morte transire ad vitam. |
Grant to them, Lord,
to pass from death unto life, |
God did not want Abraham to sacrifice his child.
“Offer the Ram of Pride, instead.”
“Offer the Ram of Pride, instead.”
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Quam olim Abrahae promisisti,
et semini ejus. and his seed. |
Which once thou promised to Abraham
and his seed. |
Sanctus et Benedictus
“Ruthie”
“Ruthie”
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Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus,
Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis. |
Holy, Holy, Holy
Lord God of Hosts. Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest! |
God? Are you there?
God? Can you hear me?
I’m hiding in a closet.
Mrs. Donohue said to be quiet.
So I’m being very quiet.
It’s dark in here, and I’m scared.
Mrs. Donohue put her coat over me.
It’s warm, and smells like her.
I like Mrs. Donohue.
She wears pink shoes.
When I asked her why, she said they made her feel like a princess.
My Daddy calls me Princess.
I want to see my Daddy, and Mommy, and Daisy.
Daisy is my dog.
She has soft brown ears.
And gives me kisses when I’m sad.
God? Can you hear me?
I’m hiding in a closet.
Mrs. Donohue said to be quiet.
So I’m being very quiet.
It’s dark in here, and I’m scared.
Mrs. Donohue put her coat over me.
It’s warm, and smells like her.
I like Mrs. Donohue.
She wears pink shoes.
When I asked her why, she said they made her feel like a princess.
My Daddy calls me Princess.
I want to see my Daddy, and Mommy, and Daisy.
Daisy is my dog.
She has soft brown ears.
And gives me kisses when I’m sad.
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Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.
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Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord.
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God? Are you there?
God? Can you hear me?
Thank you.
I’m safe now.
It was quiet, then it was noisy, then it was quiet again.
I was quiet for a very long time.
Then a man opened the door.
He was big, and I got scared.
But he took off his helmet.
And he smiled and sat down and he gave me a piece of bubble-gum.
His name was Manny.
He picked me up, and he took me to my Mommy and Daddy.
Manny told me to hold on tight.
And not to look.
To close my eyes
And not to look.
But… God?
I peeked.
Just once.
Don’t be mad.
Just one little peek
And I didn’t see anything…
Just a shoe in the hall.
Just a pink shoe.
God? Can you hear me?
Thank you.
I’m safe now.
It was quiet, then it was noisy, then it was quiet again.
I was quiet for a very long time.
Then a man opened the door.
He was big, and I got scared.
But he took off his helmet.
And he smiled and sat down and he gave me a piece of bubble-gum.
His name was Manny.
He picked me up, and he took me to my Mommy and Daddy.
Manny told me to hold on tight.
And not to look.
To close my eyes
And not to look.
But… God?
I peeked.
Just once.
Don’t be mad.
Just one little peek
And I didn’t see anything…
Just a shoe in the hall.
Just a pink shoe.
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Hosanna in excelsis.
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Hosanna in the highest!
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Agnus Dei
“New Beatitudes”
“New Beatitudes”
Blessed are they that mourn, for they shall be comforted.
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Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem. |
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of
the world, grant them rest. |
Blessed are those who set aside anger and fear, for they shall build a community.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of Heaven.
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Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem. the world, grant them rest. |
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of
the world, grant them rest. |
Blessed are they who put down the gun, and say, “I am in pain. I need your help,”
for they shall heal, and do no harm.
Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.
for they shall heal, and do no harm.
Blessed are the peace makers, for they shall be called the Children of God.
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Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,
dona eis requiem sempiternam the world, |
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of
the world, grant them everlasting rest. |
Blessed are the activists, for they shall change this wounded world.
Communion
“Lost Light”
“Lost Light”
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Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine:
Cum sanctus tuis in aeternum: quia piu es. for thou art merciful. |
May light eternal shine upon them, O Lord,
in the company of thy saints forever, for thou art merciful. |
A child is a healing light,
Fragile and hopeful and warm
They flicker in the darkness
And their light protects us from harm.
But if that light is taken away
Our path turns towards despair
Lord, help us find peace in our own souls’ light
As we leave them in your care.
Fragile and hopeful and warm
They flicker in the darkness
And their light protects us from harm.
But if that light is taken away
Our path turns towards despair
Lord, help us find peace in our own souls’ light
As we leave them in your care.
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Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
Et lux perpetua luceat eis. |
Rest eternal grant them, O Lord,
And let perpetual light shine upon them. |
Responsory
"Deliver Me"
"Deliver Me"
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Libera me, Domine, de morte aeterna,
in die illa tremenda: Quando coeli movendi sunt et terra Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem. |
Deliver me, O Lord, from death eternal,
on that dreadful day; When the heavens and the earth shall quake, When thou shalt come to judge the world by fire. |
Deliver me, Lord, when I’m hiding in a classroom.
Deliver me, Lord, when I’m running from the shopping mall.
Deliver me, Lord, when the shots ring out in worship.
Deliver me, Lord, when I’m running from the concert hall.
Deliver me, Lord, when I’m looking down the barrel.
Deliver me, Lord, when I’m running from the shopping mall.
Deliver me, Lord, when the shots ring out in worship.
Deliver me, Lord, when I’m running from the concert hall.
Deliver me, Lord, when I’m looking down the barrel.
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Tremens factus sum ego,
et timeo dum discussio venerit Atque ventura ira. Dies illa, dies irae, calamitatis et miseriae, dies magna et amara valde Dum veneris judicare saeculum per ignem. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. |
I am seized by trembling,
and I fear until the judgment should come, And I also dread the coming wrath. O that day, day of wrath, day of calamity and misery, momentous, bitter day When thou shalt come to judge the world by fire. Eternal rest grant to them, O Lord, and let perpetual light shine upon them. |
Antiphon
“And in the End”
I am too small to understand this plan,
This plan of the universe.
I am too small to guess the mind of God,
But just because I don’t have the answer,
Doesn’t mean there is no answer
And in the end, that gives me hope.
“And in the End”
I am too small to understand this plan,
This plan of the universe.
I am too small to guess the mind of God,
But just because I don’t have the answer,
Doesn’t mean there is no answer
And in the end, that gives me hope.
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In paradisum deducant te Angeli:
In tuo adventu suscipiant te Martyres, et perducant te in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem |
May the angels lead you into paradise;
May the Martyrs welcome you upon your arrival, and lead you into the holy city of Jerusalem |
But just because I don’t have the answer,
Doesn’t mean there is no answer
And I know… I am not enough,
But I am enough for hope.
Doesn’t mean there is no answer
And I know… I am not enough,
But I am enough for hope.
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Chorus Angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere aeternam habeas requiem |
May a choir of angels welcome you,
and, with poor Lazarus of old, may you have eternal rest. |
Epilogue
"Abide"
Wait with me, one more minute,
One more hour, one more day, one more lifetime
I’m so sorry I must leave you now
But my spirit will abide
Cast me out upon the waters
Let the current carry me
Let not your heart be troubled
In your voice I’ll always be.
For this journey has no ending
And the stars will be my guides
Let your soul begin its mending
In your voice, my song abides
I hear your laughter through this darkness
It leads me back where I belong
I’ll protect you while you slumber
Keep you safe until the dawn
Walk with me out in the forest
Let me rest beneath the trees
Let not your heart be troubled
In your laugh I’ll always be.
For this journey has no ending
And the stars will be my guides
Let your soul begin its mending
In your laugh, my joy abides
You’ll continue on life’s journey
I sleep ‘neath earth, and wave, and sky
But in those quiet, peaceful moments
I’ll be with you, by your side
With the winds up in the mountains
I will soar, forever free
Let not your heart be troubled
In your life I’ll always be.
For this journey has no ending
And the stars will be my guides
Let your soul begin its mending
In your life, my soul abides
"Abide"
Wait with me, one more minute,
One more hour, one more day, one more lifetime
I’m so sorry I must leave you now
But my spirit will abide
Cast me out upon the waters
Let the current carry me
Let not your heart be troubled
In your voice I’ll always be.
For this journey has no ending
And the stars will be my guides
Let your soul begin its mending
In your voice, my song abides
I hear your laughter through this darkness
It leads me back where I belong
I’ll protect you while you slumber
Keep you safe until the dawn
Walk with me out in the forest
Let me rest beneath the trees
Let not your heart be troubled
In your laugh I’ll always be.
For this journey has no ending
And the stars will be my guides
Let your soul begin its mending
In your laugh, my joy abides
You’ll continue on life’s journey
I sleep ‘neath earth, and wave, and sky
But in those quiet, peaceful moments
I’ll be with you, by your side
With the winds up in the mountains
I will soar, forever free
Let not your heart be troubled
In your life I’ll always be.
For this journey has no ending
And the stars will be my guides
Let your soul begin its mending
In your life, my soul abides
Addendum
Below is a list of references for the places and events named in the Sequence
Aurora (Colorado) - July 20, 2012 - Twelve killed and seventy injured at a Century 16 movie theatre.
Binghamton (New York) - April 3, 2009 - Thirteen killed and four wounded at the American Civic Organization immigration center.
Boulder (Colorado) - March 22, 2021 - Ten killed and one injured at a Sooper’s Supermarket.
Buffalo (New York) - May 14, 2022 - Ten killed and three injured at a Tops Friendly Market.
Chardon (Ohio) - February 27, 2012 - Three children killed and three injured at Chardon High School.
Columbine (Littleton, Colorado) - April 20, 1999 - Thirteen killed (twelve students and a teacher) and twenty-four injured at Columbine High School.
El Paso (Texas) - August 3, 2019 - Twenty-three killed and twenty-two injured at a Walmart.
Emanuel (Charleston, South Carolina) - June 17, 2015 - Nine killed and one injured during a bible study at Emanuel AME Church.
Las Vegas (Nevada) - October 1, 2017 - Sixty killed and more than four hundred injured during the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip.
Nashville (Tennessee) - March 27, 2023 - Six killed (three children and three adults) and one injured at the Covenant School.
Navy Yard (Washington, D.C.) - September 16, 2013 - Twelve killed and three injured at the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command, at the Washington Navy Yard.
Orlando (Florida) - June 12, 2016 - Forty-nine killed and fifty-three injured at the Pulse nightclub.
Oxford High (Oxford Township, Michigan) - November 30, 2021 - Four students killed and seven injured at Oxford High School.
Parkland (Florida) - February 14, 2018 - Seventeen killed, including fourteen students, and seventeen injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Red Lake (Minnesota) - March 21, 2005 - Seven killed, including five students, at Red Lake Senior High School. This was the second location in the spree. Two other people were killed earlier that day.
Rocori (Cold Spring, Minnesota) - September 24, 2003 - Two students killed at Rocori High School.
San Bernardino (California) - December 2, 2015 - Fourteen killed and twenty-four injured at the Inland Regional Center.
Sandy Hook (Newtown, Connecticut) - December 14, 2012 - Twenty-six killed, including twenty children between the ages of six and seven, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Santa Fe (Texas) - May 18, 2018 - Ten killed (eight students and two teachers) and thirteen injured at Santa Fe High School.
Sutherland Springs (Texas) - Twenty-six killed and twenty-two injured at the First Baptist Church.
Tree of Life (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - Eleven killed and six injured at L’Simcha Congregation synagogue, also known as the Tree of Life.
Uvalde (Texas) - May 24, 2022 - Twenty-one killed, including nineteen students and two teachers, and seventeen injured at Robb Elementary School.
Virginia Beach (Virginia) - May 31, 2019 - Twelve killed and four injured at a municipal building in the Princess Anne area.
Virginia Tech (Virginia) - April 16, 2007 - Thirty-two killed and seventeen injured in two attacks at Virginia Tech.
West Nickel Mines (Bart Township, Pennsylvania) - October 2, 2006 - Five children killed and five injured at the West Nickel Mines Amish schoolhouse.
Below is a list of references for the places and events named in the Sequence
Aurora (Colorado) - July 20, 2012 - Twelve killed and seventy injured at a Century 16 movie theatre.
Binghamton (New York) - April 3, 2009 - Thirteen killed and four wounded at the American Civic Organization immigration center.
Boulder (Colorado) - March 22, 2021 - Ten killed and one injured at a Sooper’s Supermarket.
Buffalo (New York) - May 14, 2022 - Ten killed and three injured at a Tops Friendly Market.
Chardon (Ohio) - February 27, 2012 - Three children killed and three injured at Chardon High School.
Columbine (Littleton, Colorado) - April 20, 1999 - Thirteen killed (twelve students and a teacher) and twenty-four injured at Columbine High School.
El Paso (Texas) - August 3, 2019 - Twenty-three killed and twenty-two injured at a Walmart.
Emanuel (Charleston, South Carolina) - June 17, 2015 - Nine killed and one injured during a bible study at Emanuel AME Church.
Las Vegas (Nevada) - October 1, 2017 - Sixty killed and more than four hundred injured during the Route 91 Harvest Music Festival on the Las Vegas Strip.
Nashville (Tennessee) - March 27, 2023 - Six killed (three children and three adults) and one injured at the Covenant School.
Navy Yard (Washington, D.C.) - September 16, 2013 - Twelve killed and three injured at the headquarters of the Naval Sea Systems Command, at the Washington Navy Yard.
Orlando (Florida) - June 12, 2016 - Forty-nine killed and fifty-three injured at the Pulse nightclub.
Oxford High (Oxford Township, Michigan) - November 30, 2021 - Four students killed and seven injured at Oxford High School.
Parkland (Florida) - February 14, 2018 - Seventeen killed, including fourteen students, and seventeen injured at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
Red Lake (Minnesota) - March 21, 2005 - Seven killed, including five students, at Red Lake Senior High School. This was the second location in the spree. Two other people were killed earlier that day.
Rocori (Cold Spring, Minnesota) - September 24, 2003 - Two students killed at Rocori High School.
San Bernardino (California) - December 2, 2015 - Fourteen killed and twenty-four injured at the Inland Regional Center.
Sandy Hook (Newtown, Connecticut) - December 14, 2012 - Twenty-six killed, including twenty children between the ages of six and seven, at Sandy Hook Elementary School.
Santa Fe (Texas) - May 18, 2018 - Ten killed (eight students and two teachers) and thirteen injured at Santa Fe High School.
Sutherland Springs (Texas) - Twenty-six killed and twenty-two injured at the First Baptist Church.
Tree of Life (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) - Eleven killed and six injured at L’Simcha Congregation synagogue, also known as the Tree of Life.
Uvalde (Texas) - May 24, 2022 - Twenty-one killed, including nineteen students and two teachers, and seventeen injured at Robb Elementary School.
Virginia Beach (Virginia) - May 31, 2019 - Twelve killed and four injured at a municipal building in the Princess Anne area.
Virginia Tech (Virginia) - April 16, 2007 - Thirty-two killed and seventeen injured in two attacks at Virginia Tech.
West Nickel Mines (Bart Township, Pennsylvania) - October 2, 2006 - Five children killed and five injured at the West Nickel Mines Amish schoolhouse.
Artist’s Statement
“An American Requiem”
Edward Tyler
I taught for 35 years. From the very beginning, I was there for my students when something inexplicable and tragic happened. I was a student teacher when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on live TV, and we watched the footage in silence, and listened to analysis, and talked about the nature of exploration. I was teaching when the September 11 attacks occurred, and I watched the second plane crash on live TV with a pair of students who had a free period, and moved my treble choir to a room with a television so we could witness events unfold. And we sat on the floor, and worried about friends in New York City, and talked about hate and fear. I didn’t have the answers, but I was convincing when I told them that they’d be alright, because I was convinced that we would be alright.
And then came Sandy Hook.
Beyond the unimaginable horror of that day, the breathtaking speed with which a joyful, raucous elementary school turned into a slaughterhouse, was something more immediate, more pernicious, and vastly more disturbing. How can you tell a classroom of students that they’ll be alright when an elementary school less than sixty miles away suddenly wasn’t, and might never be again? How can you engage high school students in a thoughtful discussion, when the working solution they come up with every time - get guns out of the equation - is seemingly the one thing that no adult in authority is willing to actually do? And instead, we get to practice hiding, and talk about barricading doors that swing out into a hallway, and put on helmets and get shot at with rubber BBs.
It was the beginning of the end of my time as a teacher.
And maybe that’s when this piece started, too. It began with texts: poems, questions, rants, random thoughts. I would type them into a file on my phone, and then forget about them for a while, only to return when another group of words needed to have their place. I’d like to be able to point to a catalyst for the writing of the work, but there isn’t one beyond the chance meeting of these accumulated words with some score study I was doing on the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré. By this time, there was just a critical mass of text material, and some of the texts fit naturally into the framework of a Requiem Mass. And as I started moving the pieces around, I found that the Latin texts would prompt new poems and thoughts. And when the draft of the libretto was set, the music started to appear as well. The bulk of the work was composed in about four weeks, which is surprisingly fast for me. But the seed of this expression was planted a long time ago, and nudged along every time we fed more people into the maw of our terrible addiction to guns.
“An American Requiem”
Edward Tyler
I taught for 35 years. From the very beginning, I was there for my students when something inexplicable and tragic happened. I was a student teacher when the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded on live TV, and we watched the footage in silence, and listened to analysis, and talked about the nature of exploration. I was teaching when the September 11 attacks occurred, and I watched the second plane crash on live TV with a pair of students who had a free period, and moved my treble choir to a room with a television so we could witness events unfold. And we sat on the floor, and worried about friends in New York City, and talked about hate and fear. I didn’t have the answers, but I was convincing when I told them that they’d be alright, because I was convinced that we would be alright.
And then came Sandy Hook.
Beyond the unimaginable horror of that day, the breathtaking speed with which a joyful, raucous elementary school turned into a slaughterhouse, was something more immediate, more pernicious, and vastly more disturbing. How can you tell a classroom of students that they’ll be alright when an elementary school less than sixty miles away suddenly wasn’t, and might never be again? How can you engage high school students in a thoughtful discussion, when the working solution they come up with every time - get guns out of the equation - is seemingly the one thing that no adult in authority is willing to actually do? And instead, we get to practice hiding, and talk about barricading doors that swing out into a hallway, and put on helmets and get shot at with rubber BBs.
It was the beginning of the end of my time as a teacher.
And maybe that’s when this piece started, too. It began with texts: poems, questions, rants, random thoughts. I would type them into a file on my phone, and then forget about them for a while, only to return when another group of words needed to have their place. I’d like to be able to point to a catalyst for the writing of the work, but there isn’t one beyond the chance meeting of these accumulated words with some score study I was doing on the Requiem by Gabriel Fauré. By this time, there was just a critical mass of text material, and some of the texts fit naturally into the framework of a Requiem Mass. And as I started moving the pieces around, I found that the Latin texts would prompt new poems and thoughts. And when the draft of the libretto was set, the music started to appear as well. The bulk of the work was composed in about four weeks, which is surprisingly fast for me. But the seed of this expression was planted a long time ago, and nudged along every time we fed more people into the maw of our terrible addiction to guns.