Dear Mozart,
I know this is nuts, but I've taken a particular interest in Requiem Masses. Your's is one of my favorites. I've been thinking of creating a Requiem mix with my favorite sections collected from the many I have listened to. For instance, have you heard Rutter's Agnus Dei. Spectacular. And of course Verdi's Libera Me.
At any rate, as part of my current instructional technology course, I produced this odd interpretation. I just wrote to apologize. I really respect the piece.
Introitus
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Lord, grant them eternal rest,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Te decet hymnus, Deus in Sion;
et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
You shall have praise in Zion, O God,
and homage shall be paid to you in Jerusalem.
Exaudi, exaudi orationem meam;
ad te omnis caro veniet.
Hear my prayer.
All flesh shall come before you.
Dona eis requiem aeternam, Domine,
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Lord, grant them eternal rest,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
Betsy
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Posts
5 comments:
Since you seem to be a big fan of modern music as well, may I suggest the War Requiem by Benjamin Britten.
http://www.its.caltech.edu/~tan/Britten/britwar.html An interesting juxtaposition of the Requiem Mass with the poetry of Wilfred Owen.
I especially like the "Dies Irae" movement.
Yes, I do love Benjamin Britten's work. Perhaps my very favorite opera (though this is hard to pin down) is Britten's Peter Grimes. Believe it or not, I have the War Requiem out on my desk at home waiting to be listened to this weekend. I will pay particular attention to the Dies Irae and consider it for inclusion in my Requiem Mix.
Your reference points out strongly that Britten's work was anti-war in nature, which was my memory of it. And certainly the juxtaposition of ideas or war and the weight of the requiem concept must, in the end, speak against the violence of life against life.
Thanks so much for mentioning this.
Was this an obituary from someone you know. Very interesting...
No, I used an Atlanta paper deliberately so it would not be someone I was associated with. However, I was trying to interpret that experience of reading and saving an obit of someone close.
Josh,
I have spent some considerable time now with the Britten War Requiem.At first it was a difficult listen, but I am understanding it more now and appreciating it's depth. I especially like the contrast between the Sanctus with it's cacophany of chimes and the final movement with the chimes tolling slowly. It is very moving.
The Dies Irae section is very nice. Are you a brass player? I would think that someone who loves brass would particularly love that movement. It is wonderful.
Next I am going to study through the poetry of Owen. It is strong. In this time of what I consider to be improper war and so much untimely and disturbing death, both of Americans and Iraqis, this poetry speaks in a haunting way.
Post a Comment