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.
Requiem: IV. Offertorium: Domine Jesu Christe
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
libera animas omnum fidelium
defunctorum de peonis inferni
et de profundo lacu:
Libera eas de ore leonis:
ne absorbeat eas Tartarus:
ne cadant in obscurum.
repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam.
Quam olim Abrahae promisisti
et semini ejus.
The lyrics to "Offertorium: Domine Jesu" by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart are a prayer addressed to Jesus Christ, the King of Glory. The prayer asks Jesus to free the souls of all faithful departed from the pains of hell and from the deep lake. The lyrics express a plea for Jesus to not let their souls be swallowed by the jaws of the lion or fall into the darkness. The lyrics suggest that St. Michael, the Holy Signmaker, should represent the souls into the holy light that was promised to Abraham and his descendants.
The lyrics portray a strong spiritual and divine presence. They express a sentiment of hope and offer faith in Jesus as the only one who can deliver the souls of the faithful. St. Michael's presence is also significant, as he is seen as the protector of the departed souls. The lyrics suggest that Michael will lead them through the darkness and into the promised land. The song is a solemn and powerful reminder of the power of faith and the hope that it brings.
Line by Line Meaning
DOMINE Jesu Christie, Rex Gloriaee,
Oh Lord Jesus Christ, King of Glory,
libera animas omnum fidelium defunctorum de peonis inferni
Please release the souls of all the faithful departed from the pains of hell
et de profundo lacu:
and from the deep lake
Libera eas de ore leonis:
Free them from the mouth of the lion
ne absorbeat eas Tartarus:
so that Tartarus does not absorb them
ne cadant in obscurum.
so that they do not fall into darkness
Sed signifer Sanctus Michael
But let Saint Michael the standard bearer
repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam.
present them into the holy light
Quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus.
which you once promised to Abraham and his descendants
Lyrics © Histoire et Chansons
Written by: Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
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this is so beatiful,that i'm actually crying while listening to this divine piece of music
TheWiseMonkey8888
1:23 ... 3:17 & 3:51 ... Makes good reading... listening too...
hryzunik
As far as I am concerned he did write up to Confutatis and he also wrote first 8 bars of Lacrimosa. Communion is his music from Introitus, but with different lyrics. He completely sketched the Offertorium and Hostias, but probably not Sanctus, Benedictus and Agnus Dei.
xmvirus202
This is one of the best interpretations of this piece, I prefer this tempo.
Toozday's Child
I'm not sure why so many conductors have so many different interpretations of the tempo of peices in the requiem. A personal pet peeve for me is when they insist on playing the Lacrimosa in double time.
armini01
i finally found one positive effect os studying latin for 4 years
Christopher Penn
yeah bwoiiiii
Herb Sewell
You would not need four years of Latin for this, lmao.
Lúcio Sobrinho
I find it so beautiful
Ilkeyrion
@sclyfes1212 Mozart wrote an official Introitus. He then left complete sketches of the Kyrie, and complete SATB of the Sequenz through to the first 8 bars of the Lacrimosa. However, there are parts of the orchestration throughout the sequenz. Mozart also completed the SATB and bass for the Offertorium, but didn't finish the orchestration. He also left an "Amen Fugue," which is thought to go after the Lacrimosa, but is omitted in the Suessmayr completion