He said that he was inspired to compose the work by visiting three places of worship, San Marco in Venice, Monreale Cathedral in Palermo, and the Greek temples at Paestum near Naples.

[2] He set it for four soloists, mixed choir, orchestra and big organ ("pour quatuor vocal solo, chœur mixte, orchestre et grand orgue"), and completed the work in 1972.

He conducted the world premiere at Lausanne Cathedral on 4 May 1973,[3] with vocal soloists Elisabeth Speiser, Ria Bollen, Éric Tappy and Peter Lagger, organist André Luy, the Ars Laeta vocal ensemble and the Union chorale de Lausanne choir, and the Orchestre de la Suisse Romande,[2][3] in a performance that was recorded.

[1] The Requiem is structured in eight movements:[4]: 343 The work is scored for four vocal soloists (soprano, alto, tenor and bass), four-part choir (at times divided), orchestra, harpsichord and organ.

The beginning of the Introitus, marked Molto lento (very slowly), "Requiem aeternam", is set for soprano and tenor soloists with women's choir.