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 in D Minor K.626: 3. Sequentia: Lacrimosa
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Lyrics
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Dies illa
Qua Re sur get est fa vi lla
Iudicandus
Homo
Reus
Lacrimosa
Dies illa
Iudicandus homo reus
Huic ergo parce, Deus
Pie lesu,
Domine
Dooona is requiem
Dooona is requiem
Amen
The Lacrimosa section of Mozart's Requiem in D Minor is a powerful and emotional piece of music that conveys a sense of sadness and mourning. The lyrics are in Latin and speak of the day of judgment, when the guilty will be judged and the world will be reborn from its ashes. The first stanza speaks of the tears that will be shed on that day, and the second speaks of the guilty being judged. The final stanza is a plea for mercy and a prayer for eternal rest.
The music itself is haunting, with a slow and mournful melody accompanied by a chorus singing in harmony. The use of dissonant chords and the repetition of phrases helps to convey the sense of sorrow and despair. The sudden shifts in dynamics, from quiet to loud and back again, add to the emotional impact of the piece.
Overall, the Lacrimosa section of Mozart's Requiem is a moving and powerful piece of music that evokes a sense of sadness and loss. Its use in films and other media has helped to make it one of the most iconic pieces of classical music.
Line by Line Meaning
La crimosa
On this mournful day
Dies illa
This day
Qua Re sur get est fa vi lla
When from the ashes shall arise
Iudicandus Homo Reus
The guilty man to be judged
Lacrimosa
Tearful
Dies illa
This day
Qua resurget est favilla
When from the ashes shall arise
Iudicandus homo reus
The guilty man to be judged
Huic ergo parce, Deus
Therefore spare him, O God
Pie lesu, Domine
Merciful Jesus, Lord
Dooona is requiem
Grant them rest
Dooona is requiem
Grant them rest
Amen
So be it
Contributed by Mason V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.