This Misa de difuntos a 8 consists out of the following movements:
01. Introito - Requiem aeternam
02. Kyries - Kyrie, Christe, Kyrie
03. Gradual - Requiem Aeternam
04. Sequencia - Dies Irae plainchant
05. Offertorio - Domine Jesu Christe
06. Sanctus - Sanctus y Benedictus
07. Agnus Dei - Agnus Dei
08. Communio - Lux aeterna
This Misa de difuntos is set by Nicolás de Santa Maria for double choir in coro spezzato style for SSAT coro I and SATB coro II, con choro de violinos (VL 1, VI 2) with basso continuo. Both choirs have two violins (VI 1 and V I 2) setting.
From the gradual "Requiem aeternam" only the verse "In memoria aeterna" has been set to music, and is set with four violins. That means the belonging “Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis” will be performed in plainchant. From the sequence "Dies irae" the first ten, twelfth, thirteenth and the last two verses have been set to music, the other verses can be sung in plainchant.
The offertory "Domine Iesu Christe" has no verse ‘Hostias et preces’ that means this verse could be sung in plainchant. There are no scores available but it is interesting to research whether the two eight voices Masses have some connexion. Samuel Rubio (O.S.A.) (1912-1986) the famous author of the Catálogo del Archivo de Música del Monasterio de San Lorenzo el Real Escorial didn’t give any suggestion in that way.
This Missa pro defunctis can be found in the Archivo Musical del El Escorial Madrid no 39843 and in the Catalogo del Archivo del Monasterio de San Lorenzo El Real de El Escorial page 460 no. 1481.