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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 spargens sonum per sepulcra regionum, coget omnes ante thronum. Mors stupebit et natura, cum resurget creatura, judicanti responsura. Liber scriptus proferetur, in quo totum continetur, unde mundus judicetur. Judex ergo cum sedebit, quidquid latet apparebit: nil inultum remanebit. Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, cum vix justus sit securus? Rex tremendae majestatis, qui salvandos salvas gratis, salva me fons pietatis. Recordare, Jesu pie, quod sum causa tuae viae: ne me perdas illa die. Quaerens me, sedisti lassus: redemisti Crucem passus: tantus labor non sit cassus. Juste judex ultionis, donum fac remissionis ante diem rationis. Ingemisco, tamquam reus: culpa rubet vultus meus: supplicanti parce, Deus. Qui Mariam absolvisti, et latronem exaudisti, mihi quoque spem dedisti. Preces meae non sunt dignae: sed tu bonus fac benigne, ne perenni cremer igne. Inter oves locum praesta, et ab haedis me sequestra, statuens in parte dextra. Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis: voca me cum benedictis. Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritum quasi cinis: gere curam mei finis. Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus: pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen.
B. Britten sets stanzas 1-4 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
B. Britten sets stanzas 5-8 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
B. Britten sets stanzas 9-10, 12-13, 15-17 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
B. Britten sets stanzas 1-2, 18, 19:1 in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
B. Britten sets stanza 19 (lines 2-3) in (at least) one setting - see below for more information
About the headline (FAQ)
Text Authorship:
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive):
- by Rosemary Clarke (1920 - 2005), "Wrath", copyright © 1988, first performed 1971 [ soprano and orchestra ] [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wolfgang Michael Rihm (1952 - 2024), "Lacrimosa I", 2015/2016 [ soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra ], from oratorio Requiem-Strophen, no. 9, note: Lacrimosa dies illa qua resurget ex favilla … … dies irae … qua resurget ex favilla homo reus [sung text not yet checked]
- by Wolfgang Michael Rihm (1952 - 2024), "Lacrimosa II", 2015/2016 [ soprano, baritone, chorus and orchestra ], from oratorio Requiem-Strophen, no. 12a [sung text not yet checked]
- by Giuseppe Verdi (1813 - 1901), "Dies irae", first performed 1874 [ soli, chorus, orchestra ], in Messa da Requiem [sung text checked 1 time]
The text above (or a part of it) is used in the following settings:
- by (Edward) Benjamin Britten (1913 - 1976), "Dies irae", op. 66 no. 2, published 1961 [ soprano, tenor, baritone, satb chorus, boys' chorus, orchestra, chamber orchestra, organ ], from War Requiem, no. 2
Settings in other languages, adaptations, or excerpts:
- Also set in Latin, adapted by Bible or other Sacred Texts [an adaptation] ; composed by Lili Boulanger.
- Also set in Latin, adapted by Bible or other Sacred Texts [an adaptation] ; composed by Pierrette Mari, John Milford Rutter, CBE.
Other available translations, adaptations or excerpts, and transliterations (if applicable):
- CAT Catalan (Català) (Salvador Pila) , copyright © 2016, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- DUT Dutch (Nederlands) [singable] (Guido (Pieter Theodoor Jozef) Gezelle) , "Kwade dag (Dies irae)", appears in Kerkhof-blommen, first published 1858
- ENG English (Michael P Rosewall) , copyright © 2023, (re)printed on this website with kind permission
- SPA Spanish (Español) (Miguel Antonio Caro) , "Dies irae de Tomás de Celano", appears in Traducciones poéticas, Bogotá, Librería Americana, calle XIV, n. 77, 79, first published 1889
Researcher for this page: Lau Kanen [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2014-06-22
Line count: 57
Word count: 210
Day of wrath, that day in which All will dissolve in embers: So testifies David with the Sybil. What quaking there will be As the judge arrives To severely examine everything! An astonishing trumpet will sound Through the tombs all around, Calling everyone before the throne. Death and nature are stupefied, As all things created rise again, In response to the judge. The book that has been written will be brought forth, In which everything is contained By which the world will be judged. Therefore, when the judge sits, Whatever is hidden will be revealed: Nothing wrongful will remain. What am I, miserable one, to say? To what advocate might I turn, When even the just are hardly safe? King of tremendous majesty, Who freely saves those that can be saved, Save me, O source of mercy. Remember, merciful Jesus, That I am the reason for your journey: Lest I become lost on that day. Seeking me, you sat down tired: Redeeming me by suffering on the cross: Don’t allow such travail to be for naught. Righteous judge of vengeance, Provide the gift of forgiveness Before the day of reckoning. I groan, so blameworthy: My face turns red with guilt: Pardon the supplicant, God. You who absolved Mary, And listened to the thief, Give me reason for hope as well. My prayers are not deserving: But, you who are good, kindly permit That I not burn in eternal fire. Give me a place among the sheep, And separate me from the goats, That I might stand at your right side. When the accursed have been perplexed, Consigned to acrid flames: Call me with the blessed. I pray, prostrate and bowed, My broken heart like ashes: Take care of me at my ending. On that day of tears When, from the embers, The guilty man arises to be judged. Spare him, then, God: Merciful Lord Jesus, Grant him rest. Amen.
About the headline (FAQ)
Translations of title(s):
"Dies irae" = "Day of Wrath"
"Wrath" = "Anger"
Text Authorship:
- Translation from Latin to English copyright © 2023 by Michael P Rosewall, (re)printed on this website with kind permission. To reprint and distribute this author's work for concert programs, CD booklets, etc., you may ask the copyright-holder(s) directly or ask us; we are authorized to grant permission on their behalf. Please provide the translator's name when contacting us.
Contact: licenses@email.lieder.example.net
Based on:
- a text in Latin by Bible or other Sacred Texts
This text was added to the website: 2023-01-23
Line count: 57
Word count: 319