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Hymn from Requiem in Latin and English |
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It seemed to me that I had entered a room in a mortuary. The walls were hung in black, but instead of white trimmings that usually set off that funeral upholstery, there was an enormous stave of music with the notes of Dies Irae, many times repeated. In the middle of the room was a canopy, from which hung curtains of red brocaded stuff and under the canopy there stood an open casket. At the sight of it, I stepped back. "That is where I sleep," said Erik. "One has to get used to everything in life, even to eternity." The sight of the coffin made such a sinister impression on me that I turned my head away. What I saw then was the keyboard of an organ that occupied the entire length of a wall. On a music stand there was a notebook splattered all over with musical notes in red ink. I asked for permission to look at it, and I read the first page: Don Juan Triumphant. "Yes," he said, "I compose sometimes. It's been twenty years since I began this work. When it's done, I'll take it with me into my coffin and will never wake again." ~Testimonial of Christine Daaé upon her first visit to Erik's house on the lake according to The Phantom of the Opera by Gaston Leroux |
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The multi-sectional poem Dies Irae began as a medieval Mass for the Dead, chanted in memory of deceased individuals and for their souls in the afterlife. During Erik's lifetime, Giuseppi Verdi set Dies Irae (and other masses including Agnus Dei) to music for his operatic work Requiem. Verdi's Requiem was first performed on 25 February 1874 at the Church of San Marco in Milan and soon afterwards at La Scala. The requiem's dual nature as an opera and as a sacred hymn was an interesting topic of discussion for its time. Additionally, Verdi was a self-proclaimed agnostic and so why he would create such a spiritual work was also most curious. Below are the words to Dies Irae both in Latin and in English. |
| Hymn in Latin Dies Irae coro Dies irae, dies illa solvet saeclum in favilla teste David cum Sibylla Quantus tremor est futurus quando judex est venturus cuncta stricte discussurus. Tuba mirum basso e coro Tuba mirum spargens sonum per sepulchra regionum coget omnes ante tronum. Mors stupebit et natura, cum resurget creatura judicanti responsura. Liber scriptus mezzosoprano e coro Liber scriptus proferetur in quo totum continetur unde mundus judicetur. Judex ergo cum sedebit, quidquid latet, apparebit, nil inultum remanebit. Quid sum miser soprano, mezzosoprano e tenore Quid sum miser tunc dicturus, quem patronum rogaturus cum vix justus sit securus? Rex tremendae majestatis solisti e coro Rex tremendae majestatis qui salvandos salvas gratis, salva me, fons pietatis. Recordare soprano e mezzosoprano Recordare, Jesu pie, quod sum causa tuae viae ne me perdas illa die. Quarens me sedisti lassus, redemisti crucem passus; tantus labor non sit cassus. Juste judex ultionis, donum fac remissionis ante diem rationis. Ingemisco tenore Ingemisco tamquam reus, culpa rubet vultus meus, supplicanti parce, Deus. Qui Mariam absolvisti et latronem exaudisti, mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces meae nonsunt dignae, sed tu bonus fac benigne, ne perenni cremer igne. Inter oves locum praesta et ab haedis me sequestra, statuens in parte dextra. Confutatis basso e coro Confutatis maledictus, flammis acribus addictis, voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritum quasi cinis, gere curam mei finis. Lacrimosa solisti e coro Lacrimosa, dies illa qua resurget ex favilla judicandus homo reus huic ergo parce Deus. Pie Jesu, Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen. | English Translation Day of Wrath chorus This day, this day of wrath shall consume the world in ashes, as foretold by David and the Sibyl. What trembling there shall be when the judge shall come to weigh everything strictly. The Trumpet bass and chorus The trumpet, scattering its awful sound across the graves of all lands, summons all before the throne. Death and nature shall be stunned when mankind arises to render account before the judge. The Written Book Mezzosoprano and Chorus The written book shall be brought in which all is contained whereby the world shall be judged. When the judge takes his seat all that is hidden shall appear, nothing will remain unavenged. What a Wretch soprano, mezzosoprano, and tenor What shall I, a wretch, say then? To which protector shall I appeal when even the just man is barely safe? King of Awful Majesty solisti and chorus King of awful majesty, you freely save those worthy of salvation, save me, fount of pity. Remember Me soprano and mezzosoprano Remember me, gentle Jesus, that I am the reason for your time on earth, do not cast me out on that day. Seeking me, you sank down wearily, you saved me by enduring the cross, such travail must not be in vain. Righteous judge of vengeance, award the gift of forgiveness before the day of reckoning. I Groan tenor I groan, like the sinner that I am, guilt reddens my face. O God, spare the supplicant. You, who pardoned Mary and heeded the thief, have given me hope as well. My prayers are unworthy, but you, who are good, in pity let me burn not in the eternal fire. Give me a place among the sheep, and separate me from the goats, let me stand at your right hand. Cast Away bass and chorus When the damned are cast away and consigned to the searing flames, call me to be with the blessed. Bowed down in supplication I beg you, my heart as though ground to ashes, help me in my last hour. Full of Tears solisti and chorus On this day, full of tears when from the ashes arises guilty man, to be judged, Lord, have mercy on him. Gentle Lord Jesus, grant them rest. Amen. |
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