Dies irae, in the occasion of 350.º anniversary of the death of Felipe II (= Phillip II of Spain, 1527-1598 ?)

Josep de Letamendi i de Manjarrés dedicated himself to composition from 1885 , at the initiative of his circle of private friends, among whom were the tenor Godró (Montiano) and the pianist Miralles . He composed several concert works, for piano and singing , and for piano, violin and cello . These works, twelve in total, culminate in the Requiem Mass , which has its origins in a Dies irae de saló, premiered at the Saló Romero in June 1887 , which ended up becoming a Requiem Mass for orchestra. , with choirs and solos in four voices, by Joan Gil i Miralles(conductor of the El Escorial orchestra 1886-1889) premiered with a splendid performance on the birthday of Philip II , on September 13, 1888 , in El Escorial , in the chapel of the Augustinians. The work responds to Letamendi's temperament, and if it does not elevate the author to the category of great musician, it does reveal a facet of his personality that connects with the profile of the humanist doctor so typical of his time.