Requiem Structure and Lyrics

In the musical settings of the normal Mass certain parts are rarely set by composers, as being variable from day to day through the ChurchÕs year. In the Requiem Mass these passages are fixed, and consequently can be set (the opening introit which gives its name to the Mass is an example). Certain small changes occur in the text of some sections: in the Agnus, instead of the words 'miserere nobis' ('Have mercy upon us') are the words 'Dona eis requiem' ('Give them rest').

The text, then, may be described as the same as that of the normal Mass with the omission of certain joyful passages and the addition of a good deal of thought of death and the last things.

Structure

1. Introitus - Requiem Aeternum - Rest eternal
2. Kyrie Eleison - Have mercy
3. Dies Irae
   • Dies Irae - Day of wrath
   • Tuba mirum - Hark the trumpet
   • Liber scriptus - Now the record
   • Quid sum miser - What affliction
   • Rex tremendae - King of Glories
   • Recordare - Ah! remember
   • Ingemisco - Sadly groaning
   • Confutatis - From the accursed
   • Lacrimosa - Ah! what weeping
4. Offertorium
   • Domine Jesus
   • Hostias
5. Sanctus
6. Benedictus
7. Agnus Dei
8. Communion: Lux Aeternae
9. Responsory: Libera me

Lyrics

Requiem Aeternum

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 defunctis, Domine. Et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine Et lux perpetua eis.

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon them A hymn, O God, becometh Thee in Zion And a vow shall be paid to thee in Jerusalem Hear my prayer All flesh shall come before you Eternal rest give unto the dead, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon them Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord And let perpetual light shine upon them.

Kyrie Eleison

Dies Irae

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 majestatus qui salvandos salvas gratis sale 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 tanquam 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 hoedis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra. Confutatis maledictis Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictus. 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.

This day, this day of wrath shall consume the world in ashes, as foretold by David and the Sibyl. What trembling there will be When the judge shall come to weigh everything strictly! 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 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 shall I, a wretch, say then? To which protector shall I appeal When even the just man is barely safe? King of awful majesty You freely save those worthy of salvation Save me, found of pity. Remember, 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 as one guilty, my face blushes with guilt; spare the suppliant, O God. Thou who didsnt absolve Mary [Magdalen] and hear the prayer of the thied hast given me hope, too. My prayers are not worthy, but Thou, O good one, show mercy, lest I burn in everlasting fire, Give me a place among the sheep, and separate me from the goats, placing me on Thy right hand. When the damned are confounded and consigned to keen flames, call me with the blessed. I pray, suppliant and kneeling, a heart as contrite as ashes; take Thou my ending into Thy care. That day is one of weeping, on which shall rise again from the ashes the guilty man, to be judged. Therefore spare this one, O God, merciful Lord Jesus: Give them rest. Amen.

Domine Jesu (Offertorium)

Domine, Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu. Libera eas de ore leonis ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum; Sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam, Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini eius. Hostias et preces tibi, Domine laudis offerimus tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam. Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semine eius.

Lord Jesus Christ, king of glory, deliver the soulds of all the faithful departed from the pains of Hell and the bottomless pit. Deliver them from the jaws of the lion, lest hell engulf them, lest they be plunged into darkness; but let the holy standard-bearer Michael lead them into the holy light, as once you promised to Abraham and to his seed. Lord, in praise we offer you Sacrifices and prayers, accept them on behalf of those who we remember this day: Lord, make them pass from death to life, as once you promised to Abraham and to his seed.

Sanctus

Sanctus, sanctus, sanctus Dominus Deus Sabaoth! Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua. Hosanna in excelsis!

Holy, holy, holy Lord God of hosts! Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest!

Benedictus

Agnus Dei

Lux aeternum

Libera Me

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