Like the Feast of All Saints, I’m sure most of you get the gist of the meaning of the date and commemoration of all the faithful departed. Today all priests may celebrate three masses. If only one is said it is the First Mass and the First Mass is the one celebrated if it is to be sung regardless of it is actually the first mass of the day. As the readings are all different, I’ve decided to post simply the Dies Irae (the Sequence) which is attributed to a 13th Century Franciscan, Thomas de Celano.1 Dies iræ! dies illaWhy did I post the Latin when I normally post a good English translation? Because I didn't have the time to type it out and I couldn't find a really good translation online in a short time. I reckon I found three or four different translations in the short time I searched. Anyway, it's better in the original.
Solvet sæclum in favilla
Teste David cum Sibylla!
2 Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando judex est venturus,
cuncta stricte discussurus!
3 Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulcra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.
4 Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.
5 Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.
6 Judex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.
7 Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit securus?
8 Rex tremendæ majestatis,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
salva me, fons pietatis.
9 Recordare, Jesu pie,
quod sum causa tuæ viæ:
ne me perdas illa die.
10 Quærens me, sedisti lassus:
redemisti Crucem passus:
tantus labor non sit cassus.
11 Juste judex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis
ante diem rationis.
12 Ingemisco, tamquam reus:
culpa rubet vultus meus:
supplicanti parce, Deus.
13 Qui Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.
14 Preces meæ non sunt dignæ:
sed tu bonus fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.
15 Inter oves locum præsta,
et ab hædis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextra.
16 Confutatis maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis:
voca me cum benedictis.
17 Oro supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis:
gere curam mei finis.
18 Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus:
19 pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.
Note to self: must also listen to Mozart's Requiem today.
4 comments:
So very, very much better. You just can't sing (or chant) it any better than you can in Latin.
Personally I'm a fan of Faure's Requiem, but its all a matter of personal taste.
Rebecca
The realy cool thing about Faure's setting is that he did not compose a Dies Irae, so (he was cior master at the Magdalane and knew what he was doing) you in clude the wonderful and unbeatable gregoian sequence and they go perfectly well together. Faure as composed the introit and Kyrie as a single peace of music wich too is lovely and seeing as though there is no incensing of the altar at that time it is litugicaly practical, all sung with the ministers praying at the foot.
I have already listened to Mozart's this morning and Donazetti's 1st movment of the Dies Irae (that's enough), tonight I will serve the Holy Sacrafice while the Gregorian is sung.
I love this feast too.
and may the souls of all the faith depart rest in peace!
All orchestral requiems are unliturgical. The liturgy of the dead is meant to be marked by a sombre mood - hence the rubrics indicating that the organ is not to be played; no solita oscula; no incense at the beginning of Mass etc. It is ridiculous to have a rule saying the organ should not be played yet have an orchestra in full flight. Victoria's requiem is much more liturgical (and beautiful).
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