Hailing from Sherbrooke (Quebec), Liva combine the grace of European metal … Read Full Bio ↴Hailing from Sherbrooke (Quebec), Liva combine the grace of European metal with the fierceness of the North American metal. Liva's current members are Sébastien Breton (drums), Catherine Elvira Chartier (soprano vocals and electric viola), Pier Carlo Liva (death and baritone vocals and guitar) and Simon Roy-Boucher (bass). Liva utilize a careful balance of death metal vocals, baritone and soprano voices and the subtle combinations of electric viola and real-time electronic manipulation, along with a solid core of bass, drums and guitar. With a sound integrating early 90’s British death/doom, Floridian death metal, operatic metal and touches of classical music, Liva creates their own unique brand of metal.

Liva was founded in Sherbrooke, in 1997. In 2001 the group released its self-titled 4-song demo. Those songs would later end up on its first album, Requiem, released in November 2002. In May, 2007, Liva released their second full length, De Insulis, inspired by the Latin writings of the French theologian and poet Alain de Lille.

Throughout the years, Liva has opened for many internationally-acclaimed bands such as Voivod (October 2000), Gorguts (September 2nd 2001), Nightwish (September 6th 2003) and Therion (September 11th and 12th 2005). The band also played on the night dedicated to metal’s future in Quebec at the Week-end extrême, on June 2nd 2002. On stage, the Liva experience offers a meeting between the age-old nobility of classical music and the contemporary urgency of metal.

Liva has been featured in reports, like the one for the program Bande-à-part on the Radio-Canada channel, aired in fall 2001 on the ARTV channel. As well as on the radio concert from March 8th 2002 with 13 guest musicians, recorded for Bande-à-part, which aired in April 2002.

On March 9th 2003, the quartet won the Mimi prize for the most avant-garde artist who “most radically break with stereotypes and established criterions: language, musical style, artistic considerations.” The members of Liva have received this prize because "they have the capacity to harmonize classical music with metal.”

Discography:

*Liva (EP, 2000)
*Requiem (Full-length, 2002)
*De Insulis (Full-length, 2007)

Tuba mirum
Liva Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
Per sepulcra regionum
Coget omnes ante thronum

Mors stupebit et natura
Cum resurget creatura
Judicanti responsura

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

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

Cum vix justus sit securus?
Cum vix justus sit securus?

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Liva's "Tuba Mirum" is a reflection on the Day of Judgment, also known as the Last Judgment, is a common theme in Christian art and literature, and is the inspiration behind these lyrics. The first stanza introduces the idea of the trumpet spreading its sound across the graves of the dead, gathering them to the throne of judgment. The second stanza describes the impact of the resurrection of the dead on nature and death itself, both of which are made powerless in light of the coming judgment. The third stanza contemplates the reaction of sinners to this event, asking rhetorically what they will say and who they will call upon as their advocate when they stand before the Just Judge who knows of their sins.

The lyrics are meant to evoke a sense of awe and fear before the power of God's judgment, and the realization that one's deeds will be brought to light and judged accordingly. The repetition of the question "Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?" (What wretch shall I, frail as I am, say then?) reinforces this sense of fear and vulnerability in the face of God's judgment. The final lines of the song reaffirm this fear by asking, "Quem patronum rogaturus/Cum vix justus sit securus?" (Who for me, when "even the just man trembles"?) It reminds us that even the righteous have reason to fear the Day of Judgment.

**Interesting facts about "Tuba Mirum":**

* "Tuba Mirum" is a part of the Latin Requiem Mass and is one of the most popular hymns of the Requiem Mass tradition.
* It is believed to have been written by the French composer and music theorist Guillaume de Machaut in the 14th century.
* The hymn has become so famous that it has been adapted into various genres including classical, rock, and even played at death metal concerts.
* The lyrics for "Tuba Mirum" have been translated into numerous languages.
* The hymn has been used as a source of inspiration in many works of literature including Dante's "Divine Comedy" and Milton's "Paradise Lost."
* The medieval poet Dante Alighieri put "Tuba Mirum" on the lips of angels and saints throughout his depiction of the afterlife in his epic poem the "Divine Comedy."
* The hymn's haunting melody has been used in films such as "The Shining" and "The Lion King."
* Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart incorporated "Tuba Mirum" into his famous Requiem Mass.
* Traditional performances of "Tuba Mirum" often include the use of trumpet fanfare by performers.
* The hymn is often performed during funerals to commemorate the dead, especially those who have lived righteous lives.

**Chords for Tuba Mirum:** (Unfortunately, the chords for Liva's specific rendition of "Tuba Mirum" is unknown.)

Line by Line Meaning

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
A trumpet will sound, spreading its resounding melody

Per sepulcra regionum
Throughout the regions of graves

Coget omnes ante thronum
It will gather everyone before the throne

Mors stupebit et natura
Death and nature will be stunned

Cum resurget creatura
As the creature rises

Judicanti responsura
Answering to the judge

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
What will I, a wretch, say then?

Quem patronum rogaturus
To what patron will I appeal?

Cum vix justus sit securus?
When even the just may be uneasy?

Liber scriptus proferetur
The written book will be brought forth