Requiem K 626

I. Introit

This music for this movement, both vocal and instrumental, is exclusively by Mozart.

Requiem æternam dona eis Domine
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon them.

Te decet hymnus Deus in Sion
et tibi redetur votum in Jerusalem.

Thou O God art praised in Sion
and unto thee shall the vow be performed in Jerusalem.

Exaudi orationem meam,
ad te omnis caro veniet.

Thou that hearest the prayer,
unto thee shall all flesh come.

Requiem æternam dona eis Domine
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Rest eternal grant unto them O Lord,
and let light perpetual shine upon them.

II. Kyrie

The vocal parts for this movement are by Mozart. The orchestration is by Süßmayr, but it exclusively doubles the vocal parts and so can be considered to be Mozart.

Kyrie eleison,
Christe eleison,
Kyrie eleison.

Lord have mercy,
Christ have mercy,
Lord have mercy.

III. Sequence

1. Dies Irae, Dies Illa

The vocal parts for this movement are original Mozart. The orchestration is in Süßmayr’s hand. It follows the rhythmic, melodic and harmonic nature of the vocal parts, but is written idiomatically for the contemporary classical instruments of the time and follows classical conventions in terms of orchestration. Mozart, had he completed this movement, clearly would have been working under the same technological limitations and restrictions as Süßmayr when  it came to orchestration. 

Dies irae, dies illa,
solvet saeclum, in favilla;
teste David cum Sibylla.  

Day of wrath, day of anger,
will dissolve the world in ashes,
as foretold by David and the Sibyl.

Quantus tremor est futurus
quando judex est venturus
cuncta stricte discussurus! 

Great trembling there will be
when the Judge descends from heaven
to examine all things closely.

2. Tuba Mirum

The vocal parts for this movement are by Mozart. The orchestration is by Süßmayr, and contains music which, although clearly derived from the vocal parts, is not copied, doubled or harmonically juxtaposed. Instead there is more polyphony and original invention from Süßmayr based upon the vocal parts.

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulchra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.

The trumpet will send its wondrous sound
throughout earth's sepulchres,
and gather all before the throne.

Mors stupebit et natura
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.

Death and nature will be astounded
when all creation rises again,
to answer the judgement.

Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.

A book will be brought forth,
in which all will be written,
by which the world will be judged.

Judex ergo cum sedebit,
quid latet apparebit:
nil inultum remanebit.

When the judge takes his place,
what is hidden will be revealed:
nothing will remain unavenged.

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem patronum rogaturus
cum vix justus sit securus?

What shall a wretch like me say?
Who shall intercede for me
when the just ones need mercy?