The Requiem was composed in 2008 and 2010. The work was initially commissioned by Musik i Uppland on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the Allmänna Sången, and there was a request that it should have a connection to Uppsala. However, events took a different turn. A close friend of mine committed suicide and in my grief I decided to compose a Requiem in his memory instead.
The first part of the work, including Lacrimosa, was first performed with Allmänna Sången, Uppsala Chamber Orchestra under the direction of Cecilia Rydinger Alin and Olle Persson as baritone soloist, in 2009 and won such a response from the audience, musicians and reviewers that the supplementary part of the requiem was immediately commissioned in 2010. The complete work was first performed in November 2010, with S:a Clara's Motet choir, St. Jacob's Chamber choir and Uppsala Chamber Orchestra and Olle Persson as soloist under the direction of Paul Mägi, at two concerts, in Uppsala concert hall and in Stockholm in St. Jacob's Church. Both premieres were received by standing ovations.