"Dies Irae" ("Day Of Wrath")

OK, girls and boys, back to gloom and doom: This famous 13th century trochaic Latin hymn was originally attributed to Thomas de Celano but, amid controversy, it is now believed to have been written by an unknown Franciscan monk. A reflection upon the Final Judgement, it was inspired by Zephaniah 1:15-16 and by Unetanneh Tokef in the Jewish liturgy. It constitutes the core of Requiem Masses by Mozart, Verdi, Berlioz and Stravinsky, among others. The last two stanzas, "Lacrimosa" and "Pie Jesu" are perhaps the best known. Used by Stanley Kubrick in "A Clockwork Orange" and "The Shining".

Dies irae - Dies illa

Solvet saeclum in favilla
Teste David cum Sybilla...

I was somewhat familiar with Mozart's Requiem in D-minor K. 626 when I went to Jefferson in Philly from Puerto Rico to study Medicine in '73.  I only knew one person at the school when I arrived.  Fortunately for me I lived at the Phi Chi Medical Fraternity so I had an instant group of friends that, to this day, are very dear to me.  I also joined the Jefferson Choir (I was advised not to give up my day job for a singing career!).  We performed the Requiem for our yearly concert under the direction of Dr. Bob Sataloff.   Big-time goosebumps singing "Dies Irae" with full orchestra and very gifted soloists. Needless to say, I became quite familiar with it.  Wonderful memories!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DFq-HHA0k2E
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDFFHaz9GsY 

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