kilroy@mimsy.UUCP (Nancy's Sweetie) (10/19/89)
My fiancee & I were recently listening to Mozart's `Requiem' (which, btw, we highly recommend), and I asked what, exactly, they were saying. Much to my astonishment, she didn't know either, and we couldn't make them out. (It's not that Mozart took lessons from the Dead Kennedys, it's that he wrote it in Latin.) So I thought I'd ask if anyone knows what the words are, both what is being said in Latin, and what it all translates to. Thanks in advance. kilroy@cs.umd.edu Darren F. Provine ...uunet!mimsy!kilroy "You Americans are all alike: you think everyone speaks English as long as you say it LOUDLY ENOUGH." -- BJ, from M*A*S*H
jhpb@lancia.att.com (10/23/89)
Mozart's piece is some of the principal parts of the Catholic Requiem Mass (the Mass for the dead) set to music. If you ever get a chance to listen to the Gregorian chant for this, I recommend it. It contains some of the oldest Gregorian chant. I don't have Mozart's Requiem, but based on what I've heard in the past of Requiem compositions, it proabably contains at least the following pieces of the Mass: Introit Kyrie Agnus Dei Sequence Introit: The prayer the priest says after he ascends the altar steps. (The names of the common Masses are taken from the first word of the Introit. Thus the "Requiem" Mass.) Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem: exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine: et lux perpetua luceat eis. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon them. A hymn, O God, becometh Thee in Sion; and a vow shall be paid to Thee in Jerusalem: hear my prayer; all flesh shall come to Thee. Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord: and let perpetual light shine upon them. Kyrie: This is Greek, not Latin. It is probably a remnant from the first couple centuries, when the Mass was in Greek. Kyrie eleison (3 times) Lord, have mercy Christe eleison (3 times) Christ, have mercy Kyrie eleison (3 times) Lord, have mercy Agnus Dei The priest says this a little before his communion. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi: dona eis requiem sempiternam. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them peace. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them peace. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal peace. Sequence -- the Dies Irae. Composed in the 12th or 13th century, the subject is death, the last judgement, etc. Verdi's music for this is rather famous. The translation is not exactly literal, but it's close. The Gregorian chant is very somber. Dies irae, dies illa Day of wrath and doom impending, Solvet saeclum in favilla: David's word with Sibyll's blending, Teste David cum Sibylla. Heaven and earth in ashes ending! Quantus tremor est futurus, O what fear man's bosom rendeth, Quando judex est venturus, When from heaven the Judge descendeth, Cuncta stricte discussurus! On whose sentence all dependeth! Tuba, mirum spargens sonum Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth, Per sepulchra regionem Through earth's sepulchres it ringeth, Coget omnes ante thronum. All before the throne it bringeth. Mors stupebit et natura, Death is struck, and nature quaking, Cum resurget creatura All creation is awaking, Judicanti responsura. To its Judge an answer making. Liber scriptus proferetur, Lo! the book exactly worded, In quo totum continetur, Wherein all hath been recorded; Unde mundus judicetur. Thence shall judgement be awarded. Iudex ergo cum sedebit, When the Judge His seat attaineth, Quidquid latet, apparebit: And each hidden deed arraigneth, Nil inultum remanebit. Nothing unavenged remaineth. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? What shall I, frail man, be pleading? Quem patronum rogaturus? Who for me be interceding, Cum vix iustus sit securus? When the just are mercy needing? Rex tremendae maiestatis, King of majesty tremendous, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Who dost free salvation send us, Salva me, fons pietatis. Fount of pity, then befriend us! Recordare, Iesu pie, Think, kind Jesu! -- my salvation Quod sum causa tuae viae, Caused thy wondrous Incarnation; Ne me perdas illa die. Leave me not to reprobation. Quaerens me, sedisti lassus: Faint and weary Thou hast sought me, Redemisti, crucem passus; On the Cross of suffering bought me; Tantus labor non sit cassus. Shall such grace be vainly brought me? Iuste Iudex ultionis, Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution Donum fac remissionis Grant Thy gift of absolution, Ante diem rationis. Ere that day of retribution. Ingemisco tamquam reus; Guilty, now I pour my moaning, Culpa rubet vultus meus: All my shame with anguish owning; Supplicanti parce, Deus. Spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning! Qui Mariam absolvisti, Through the sinful woman shriven, Et latronem exaudisti, Through the dying thief forgiven, Mihi quoque spem dedisti. Thou to me a hope hast given. Preces meae non sunt dignae; Worthless are my prayers and sighing, Sed tu bonus fac benigne Yet, good Lord, in grace complying, Ne perenni cremer igne. Rescue me from fires undying. Inter oves locum praesta, With Thy sheep a place provide me, Et ab haedis me sequestra, From the goats afar divide me, Statuens in parte dextra. To Thy right hand do thou guide me. Confutatis maledictis, When the wicked are counfounded, Flammis acribus addictis, Doomed to shame and woe unbounded, Voca me cum benedictis. Call me, with thy Saints surrounded. Oro supplex et acclinis, Low I kneel, with heart's submission, Cor contritum quasi cinis: See, like ashes my contrition! Gere curam mei finis. Help me in my last condition! Lacrymosa dies illa, Ah! that day of tears and mourning! Qua resurget ex favilla From the dust of earth returning, Iudicandus homo reus. Man for judgement must prepare him: Huic ergo parce, Deus; Spare, O God, in mercy spare him! Pie Iesu Domine, Lord, all-pitying, Jesu blest, Dona eis requiem. Amen. Grant them thine eternal rest. Amen. Joe Buehler [If you buy a recording, it normally includes the full text with translation. --clh]