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.
Tuba mirum
Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
per sepulchra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum.
Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.
Judex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit,
nil inultum remanebit.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
quem patronum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit securus?
The lyrics are from the Latin hymn Tuba Mirum, which translates to "wondrous trumpet." It describes the end of the world, where the trumpet sounds, and the dead rise from their graves to face judgement before God's throne. Death and nature itself will be amazed, and the resurrected will answer to the judge. This day is also called the day of wrath when the world will be judged, and a book containing everyone's deeds will be opened for judgement. On judgement day, everyone, righteous or not, will have to stand before the judge, and there will be no one to plead for the sinner.
Mozart composed Tuba Mirum as part of his Requiem Mass in 1791, a work that he left unfinished at his death. The piece was eventually completed by his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr. The song is dramatic and intense, composed for a choir and orchestra, with a booming brass section that evokes the trumpet mentioned in the lyrics. It is a powerful reflection on life, death, and the final judgement, and remains one of Mozart's most beloved choral works.
Line by Line Meaning
Tuba mirum spargens sonum
A trumpet sounding will spread a remarkable sound
Per sepulchra regionum
Throughout the tombs of the earth
Coget omnes ante thronum.
It will bring everyone before the throne.
Mors stupebit et natura,
Death and nature will be astounded
Cum resurget creatura,
When the creature rises
Judicanti responsura.
To answer to the judge.
Liber scriptus proferetur,
The written book will be brought forth
In quo totum continetur,
In which everything is contained
Unde mundus judicetur.
From which the world will be judged.
Judex ergo cum sedebit,
Therefore when the judge is seated
Quidquid latet apparebit,
Whatever is hidden will be revealed
Nil inultum remanebit.
Nothing will remain unpunished.
Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
What wretched person shall I then say?
Quem patronum rogaturus,
What patron will I ask
Cum vix justus sit securus?
When scarcely the just man is secure?
Contributed by Juliana M. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Sanlkar
Es dificil encontrar un elenco tan expectacular como este. El poderio de Berry, la calidez y belleza de la voz de Schreider, la solemnidad de Chista Ludwig y la delicadeza y timbre de Gundula Janowitz.
Edgar Cherqezyan
Я тут чтобы имя спросить, а вы перечислили всех, спасибо
expatmartin
Walter Berry is just amazing here and his superb breath control and reserves shows us why he had such a wonderful rich and full tone and long career. Thank you.
Andrea von Wurmb
Yes. That important technical detail at the beginning and his modulation of that one long breath does so much for the expression.
Jonas Hartmann
1:07 THIS! This might be my favorite part in the whole requiem. And I love every single note of this masterpiece...
Aurel
Yesss! So much yess!
Michael A.
Yes! EXACTLY what I was thinking! I actually looked this up to see if that part was Tuba Mirum x3 Although I do prefer Confutatis, Introit-Kyrie and Lacrimosa.
Andrea von Wurmb
YES!!!
Peter Cracknell
and indeed all music for all time. It is perfect.
F.O.S
I feel like great forces take over my soul, my eyes Shed tears, also my soul