What is the Rolling Requiem's Tsunami Tribute?
The Rolling Requiem's Tsunami Tribute is a worldwide tribute to honor those swept away by the tsunami and those who are now rebuilding their lives.  An invitation to sing is extended to the original 205 choirs that made up the first Rolling Requiem.  Any and all additional choruses around the globe are also invited to participate.

The music for the global tribute will include three pieces: excerpts from Mozart's Requiem and the complete music of his Ave Verum Corpus, which are memorials, as well as, Ode to Joy from Beethoven's Ninth, which is an anthem of hope, rebirth and joy. 

The solo parts will be excluded from both Mozart's Requiem and Beethoven's Ode to Joy.

The tribute will be streamed live on broadband Internet.  During the one-hour broadcast, we will invite viewers to make donations to the tsunami relief effort.

How did the Rolling Requiem's Tsunami Tribute get started?
In America, it was Christmas evening.  Families celebrated with dinner, gifts, carols and prayer.  While on the other side of the world, a tsunami of overwhelming magnitude broke open the lives of millions.

While countries and communities everywhere rushed to help, in Seattle, people began to remember the Rolling Requiem.  As the sole global tribute on the first anniversary of the September 11th attacks, it involved 205 choirs in 28 countries singing Mozart's Requiem.   It created a global outpouring of love, hope and healing.

Could we invite the world to come together for a second tribute, people asked, one that will sound a common chord of hope and renewal in the tsunami’s wake?

Because of their initiative, the Rolling Requiem’s second global tribute is underway.  As with the original event, choruses from around the globe will sing.  On this second occasion they will all sing together, beginning at the moment the tsunami struck one year before. 

How will the Rolling Requiem's Tsunami Tribute work?
The Rolling Requiem's Tsunami Tribute choirs will sing concurrently, beginning when it is 8:30 AM on December 26th, 2005 in Banda Aceh, Sumatra, Indonesia.  For a chart that shows what time it will be in your time zone and other parts of the world, click here.

Each choir will organize its own performances including singers, orchestras, music, venues, local publicity, fund-raising and so forth.  The Rolling Requiem Tsunami Tribute Committee will work with the choirs to provide instructions and support as they plan their concerts.  Regular email updates will ensure communications up to the day of the event. 

What is the goal for this effort?
By bringing together these many voices, the Rolling Requiem’s Tsunami Tribute hopes to make a contribution to the healing process of the many who have been deeply affected by the devastation and loss of the tsunami.  We intend to both memorialize those lost and to sound a common chord of hope for those who are rebuilding their lives and livelihoods.

The Rolling Requiem's Tsunami Tribute becomes an affirmation of love and support for all the people of the world, especially those directly affected by the disaster.  In the same way that so many reached out to help immediately after the wave struck, it is hoped that this effort and the unified singing will make a difference for many people, while also serving to commemorate the first anniversary.

Are there other choirs in the area that our choir can join with to sing?
Please register your choir by clicking here.  We will send you a password that allows you to come into an area of the site that is for choirs only.  There, you can see who is participating from your area, contact them about combining your talents, and make plans. 

I'm an individual singer.  Is there a choir in my area that I can join with to sing?
Please register yourself by clicking here.  We will send you a list of choirs in your area that are participating.  You can contact them to inquire about joining them to sing.  You can also post a notice to alert others in your area that you are organizing choirs to sing. 

Can we/I help organize choirs in our area to sing?
Yes.  Please click here to register as a volunteer.  We will send you information about who is participating from your area.  You can contact them about combining your talents. 

We know of a choir that should be invited to sing.  How do we get them an invitation?
Send us an email to us with the choir contact information and we will send them an invitation.  Thanks for being proactive.  The Rolling Requiem is a true grassroots effort.  It is happening because people like you, all over the world, are spreading the word.

What about approaching our local news media concerning the Rolling Requiem and our concert?
We encourage you to do this.  Stories about the event will help you attract the resources you need for a successful tribute.  You can send reporters to our website, www.rollingrequiem.org for copies of the press releases we have issued.  We will appreciate being notified of local news stories and we ask that you post a copy of them or a link to them at our website or email it to us at info (at) rollingrequiem.org



How do we make certain that our concert is secure?
Security is an important consideration for every concert.  If you are in the US, contact your state Office of Homeland Security, your local government and your police.  Tell them about your concert and request their help.  If you are outside the US, contact your government’s police and security offices and request their help.

Should we charge for the concert?
There are costs for setting up your concert. Some choirs are asking for donations of goods, services and money to cover the costs of their concerts.  However, some choirs are charging a nominal fee to help pay the costs.  This decision is up to you. 

Choirs should not charge fees to raise funds for themselves - but rather to cover the costs of performing and putting the Rolling Requiem’s Tsunami Tribute together, and/or to make a contribution to the tsunami relief effort.

If you are a US choir, we cannot extend 501 (c) 3 tax-exempt status to your fundraising effort.  Instead, if your choir does not have this status, you should approach an organization or foundation in your community and ask them to become your fiscal sponsor.  If you are a choir outside the US, be sure to comply with your country’s tax laws regarding contributed goods, services and money.

Can you provide an estimate for what the tribute will cost an individual choir?
The amount depends on what is contributed.  It also depends on what the costs are in your local area.  Because costs for performance space, labor, marketing and other components vary, we cannot provide you with a cost estimate.

What if a choir wants to have its concert at a different time of day?
This is your choice.  However, since we will all be singing together, to be part of the Tsunami Tribute, your choir must begin singing in unison with the others, beginning when it is 8:30 AM on December 26, 2005 in Banda Ache, Indonesia.  For a chart that shows what time it will be where you are, click here.

Must we learn Mozart's entire Requiem his Ave Verum Corpus and Beethoven's Ode to Joy from his Ninth Symphony in order to participate?
Because this tribute will be broadcast live, many choirs around the world will be featured.  Therefore, it is imperative that your choir is prepared to sing all three pieces.

The solo parts will be excluded from both Mozart's Requiem andBeethoven's Ode to Joy.


We don't know the music but we would like to participate.  Can we sing something else?
Because this tribute will be broadcast live, many choirs around the world will be featured.  Therefore, it is imperative that your choir is prepared to sing all three pieces.  If you choose to participate, but to sing other pieces, you will forego the option to become part of the broadcast.  However, you may still participate.

Where can choirs get a copy of the music for Mozart's Requiem, his Ave Verum Corpus and Beethoven's Ode to Joy from his Ninth Symphony
We suggest you contact your local library and/or other choirs in your area to find out if they have copies to lend you.  In addition, we suggest the following websites for copies of the sheet music:

(1) www.sheetmusicplus.com

(2) www.handlo.com which has some sheet music on-line.

(3) www.cpdl.org which has sheet music available in the public domain.

Where can I get practice tapes of the three pieces by section - bass, tenor, alto and soprano?
For assistance in learning music, go to www.songlearning.com

Can we play a recording or CD of the music instead of performing it?
The objective is to have live performances in as many venues as possible.  However, sometimes choirs cannot do this.  For instance, school choirs may have members who have graduated.  Because of this change, they do not have enough time to teach the pieces to new singers.  In such cases, a suggestion is to play a recording or a CD, if the recording or CD is one that your choir performed.  Also, choirs can approach radio stations in their areas to request they broadcast the recording or CD at the appointed time. Then, gather to listen to the broadcast. 

What about political support for our tribute from local area government-mayors, governors, etc?
The Rolling Requiem is an act of love, not politics.  However, your elected officials will probably be interested in knowing of your participation.  They may be able to help you with critical aspects of organizing it.  You might also consider inviting them to attend the concert.  You should not feel obligated to have them speak at your concert.
In addition, you should ask them to help make your concert secure. 

Will the choirs be able to communicate and coordinate in planning the event? We will be providing online community space for participating groups around the world to work together in planning their events.  Participants will be able to meet their counterparts from other countries, work together to coordinate the activities, access resource materials, and network with other choirs in their region.  The online space will be available 24 hours a day so that participants in every time zone can have full access to the discussion and tools. An added advantage is that there are no additional long distance phone costs for this type of communication.

Who can I contact for more information about the committee and the Rolling Requiem?
Please email info(at)rollingrequiem.org outlining what information you need and a Rolling Requiem Committee volunteer will get in touch with you.