In an interview with a French magazine posted in June 2007 on their website, Iskander Hasnawi indicated that the costs and difficulties of recording the orchestral music associated with Elend have made it impossible to continue with the Elend project. Both composers will be continuing with personal projects, including L'Ensemble Orphique.
Official website: www.elend-music.org
Ouvertüre
Elend Lyrics
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Incipit lamentatio musae Melpomenes, die Christi mortis.
Incipiunt lectiones imae tenebrarum,
Quae viderunt labefactum regnum Dei
Et victoriam finalem phalangum caelestium
Atque mortem Luciferi.
Sed ecce discesso caelo atro agmine immenso
O mire adspectus occasus sphaerarum,
Resonat caeleste regnum mille vocibus dissonis,
Ut lamenta desperata de convexo caeli fluunt.
Adveniunt, veniunt cum syrmate angeli mortis.
The lyrics to Elend's "Ouverture" are written in Latin and interwoven with different religious themes and symbols. The song opens with a plea to God for help, setting a tone of lamentation, and invoking the Muse Melpomenes, a figure from Greek mythology who was associated with tragedy. The lyrics then shift to a description of the darkness and despair that surrounded Christ's death, and continues with the reading of the "lectures of the lowest darkness", which saw the collapse of the kingdom of God and the final victory of the heavenly phalanxes and the death of Lucifer.
As the lyrics progress, the tone becomes more complex, with the addition of celestial spheres, heavenly kingdoms, and the arrival of angels of death with their syrmate. The overall picture painted by the lyrics is one of intense emotion: lamentation, despair, and ultimately, the arrival of death.
The lyrics of "Ouverture" are a blend of different religious and philosophical symbols, with references to Greek mythology, Judeo-Christian beliefs, and astrology. The use of Latin adds to the archaic and otherworldly feel of the song, as well as heightening its themes of religious mystery and spiritual transcendence. The song's lyrics combine these various symbols and themes to create a sense of awe and wonder, as well as a deep sense of loss and despair.
Line by Line Meaning
Deus in adiutorium meum intende.
God, please come to my aid.
Incipit lamentatio musae Melpomenes, die Christi mortis.
The mourning of Melpomene, on the day of Christ's death, begins.
Incipiunt lectiones imae tenebrarum,
The darkest lessons begin.
Quae viderunt labefactum regnum Dei
They witnessed the Kingdom of God shaken.
Et victoriam finalem phalangum caelestium
And the final triumph of the celestial army.
Atque mortem Luciferi.
And the death of Lucifer.
Sed ecce discesso caelo atro agmine immenso
But behold, from the dark sky, an immense crowd departs.
Milia milium adveniunt e profundis infernorum.
Thousands upon thousands arrive from the depths of the underworld.
O mire adspectus occasus sphaerarum,
Oh wonderful sight of the setting spheres,
Resonat caeleste regnum mille vocibus dissonis,
The heavenly kingdom resonates with a thousand discordant voices,
Ut lamenta desperata de convexo caeli fluunt.
As desperate lamentations flow from the vault of heaven.
Adveniunt, veniunt cum syrmate angeli mortis.
The angels of death arrive, they come in procession.
Contributed by Sophia G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@ShinraXSoldier
Just listening to this for the very first time.. This should have been on the CD original version. it's very fitting. I'm going to have to buy the LP right now.
@matthr042
Incipit lamentatio Jeremiae prophetae oh wait