Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific … Read Full Bio ↴Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (27 January 1756 – 5 December 1791) was a prolific and influential composer of the Classical period. Despite his short life, his rapid pace of composition resulted in more than 800 works of virtually every Western classical genre of his time. Many of these compositions are acknowledged as pinnacles of the symphonic, concertante, chamber, operatic, and choral repertoire. Mozart is widely regarded as among the greatest composers in the history of Western music, with his music admired for its "melodic beauty, its formal elegance and its richness of harmony and texture".

Born in Salzburg, then in the Holy Roman Empire and currently in Austria, Mozart showed prodigious ability from his earliest childhood. Already competent on keyboard and violin, he composed from the age of five and performed before European royalty. His father took him on a grand tour of Europe and then three trips to Italy. At 17, he was a musician at the Salzburg court but grew restless and traveled in search of a better position.

While visiting Vienna in 1781, Mozart was dismissed from his Salzburg position. He stayed in Vienna, where he achieved fame but little financial security. During his final years there, he composed many of his best-known symphonies, concertos, and operas. His Requiem was largely unfinished by the time of his death at the age of 35, the circumstances of which are uncertain and much mythologized.

Ave verum corpus K.618
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Lyrics

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Ave verum corpus, natum
De Maria Virgine
Vere passum, immolatum
In cruce pro homine
Cuius latus perforatum
Fluxit aqua et sanguine
Esto nobis praegustatum
In mortis examine

O Iesu dulcis
O Iesu pie
O Iesu, fili Mariae

Miserere mei
Amen

Overall Meaning

The lyrics of Ave Verum K.618 by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are in Latin and are a hymn to Jesus Christ. The song begins with the phrase "Ave verum corpus, natum De Maria Virgine," which translates to "Hail, true body, born of the Virgin Mary." This line establishes the central theme of the song, which is the veneration of Jesus' physical body. The mention of the Virgin Mary emphasizes the divinity of Jesus' birth and highlights his sacred nature.

The following lines, "Vere passum, immolatum In cruce pro homine," mean "Truly suffered and sacrificed on the cross for mankind." This verse presents the idea that Jesus willingly endured great pain and underwent ultimate sacrifice by being crucified for the sake of humanity. It reflects on the significance of Jesus' crucifixion as a pivotal event in Christian theology, highlighting his profound love for mankind.

The next verse, "Cuius latus perforatum Fluxit aqua et sanguine," translates to "From whose pierced side flowed water and blood." This references the biblical account of Jesus' crucifixion, where after his death, a Roman soldier pierced his side, resulting in water and blood flowing out. This imagery carries symbolic weight, representing purification and redemption through Jesus' sacrifice.

The final lines of the song, "Esto nobis praegustatum In mortis examine O Iesu dulcis O Iesu pie O Iesu, fili Mariae Miserere mei," mean "Be now our foretaste during the ordeal of death, O sweet Jesus, O pious Jesus, O Jesus, son of Mary. Have mercy on me." These lines express a plea for Jesus' presence and mercy, particularly in the face of death. The reference to Jesus as the son of Mary once again underscores his human and divine nature, inviting listeners to seek his compassion and grace in times of need.

Overall, the lyrics of Ave Verum K.618 by Mozart capture the essence of devotion to Jesus Christ, emphasizing his physical body, sacrificial death, and the need for his mercy and compassion in all aspects of life.

Line by Line Meaning

Ave verum corpus, natum
Hail, true body, born

De Maria Virgine
of the Virgin Mary

Vere passum, immolatum
truly suffered, sacrificed

In cruce pro homine
on the cross for mankind

Cuius latus perforatum
from whose pierced side

Fluxit aqua et sanguine
flowed water and blood

Esto nobis praegustatum
Be for us a foretaste

In mortis examine
In the trial of death

O Iesu dulcis
O sweet Jesus

O Iesu pie
O merciful Jesus

O Iesu, fili Mariae
O Jesus, Son of Mary