Note: The 'Dies irae' is the most complicated part of Verdi's Requiem. It comprises nine sections, which verdi composed without a break, as one continuous flow of music. and yet each section has its own melodic ideas, and exists seperately as a musical piece (though no one ever dreamt of playing any of them seperately in a concert..). Therefore - to each section its own page. Click on the name of each section to get to the text in this page, and then click on the heading to get musical analysis and examples.

Note: the 'next part' link at the bottom of this page takes you to the next part of the requiem (i.e. 'Offertorio'), not to the next section of the Dies Irae.

1. Opening section - dies irae.
2. Tuba mirum.
3. Liber scriptus.
4. Quid sum miser.
5. Rex tremendae.
6. Recordare.
7. Ingemisco.
8. Confutatis.
9. Lacrymosa.

Dies irae

Latin

Dies irae, dies illa
solvet saeclum in favilla
teste David cum Sybilla
Dies irae, dies illa

Quantus tremor est futurus,
quando Judex est venturus
cuncta stricte discussurus.

English

Day of wrath and doom impending,
David's word with Sibyl's blending
Heaven and earth in ashes ending
Day of wrath and doom impending

Oh, what fear man's bosom rendeth
When from heaven the judge descendeth
On whose sentence all dependeth.

Tuba mirum

Latin

Tuba mirum spargens sonum
per sepulchra regionum,
coget omnes ante thronum

Mors stupebit et natura,
cum resurget creatura,
judicanti responsura.

English

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth,
Through earth's espulchres it ringeth,
All before the throne it bringeth.

Death is struck and nature quacking,
All creation is awaking,
To its Judge an answer making

Liber scriptus

Latin

Liber scriptus proferetur,
in quo totum continetur,
unde mundus judicetur.

Judex ergo cum sedebit,
quidquid latet apparebit,
nil inultum remanebit.

English

Lo! the book exactly worded,
Wherein all hath been recorded,
Thence shall judgement be awarded.

When the Judge his seat attaineth,
And each hidden deed arraigneth,
Nothing unavenged remaineth.

Quid sum miser

Latin

Quid sum miser tunc dicturus?
Quem partonum rogaturus,
cum vix justus sit serucus?

English

What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
When the just are mercy needing?

Rex tremendae

Latin

Rex tremendae majestatis,
qui salvanos salvas gratias,
Salva me, fons pietatis.

English

King of majesty tremendous,
Who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us.

Recordare

Latin

Recordare, Jesu pie,
quod sum causa tuae viae;
ne me perdas illa die.
Quaerens me sedisti lassus,
redemisti crucem passus;
tantus labor non sit cassuc.

Juste Judex ultionis,
donum fac remissionis,
ante diem rationis.

English

Think, kind Jesu, my salvation
Caused thy woundrous incarnation;
Leave me not to reprobation.
Faint and wary thou has sought me,
on the cross of suffering bought me,
Shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Righteous Judge, for sin's pollution,
Grant thy gift of absolution,
Ere that day of retribution.

Ingemisco

Latin

Ingemisco tanquam reus;
culpa rubet vultus meus;
supplicanti parce, Deus.
Qui Mariam absolvisti,
et latronem exaudisti,
mihi quoque spem dedisti.
Preces meae non sunt dignae,
sed tu, bonus, fac benigne,
ne perenni cremer igne.
Inter oves locum praesta,
et ab hoedis me sequestra,
statuens in parte dextra.

English

Guilty now I pour my moaning,
All my shame with anguish owning;
Spare, o God, Thy suppliant groaning.
Through the sinful woman shriven,
Through the dying thief forgiven,
thou to me a hope hast given.
Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
Yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
Rescue me from fires undying.
With Thy favoured sheep o place me,
Not among the goats abase me,
But to Thy right hand upraise me.

Confutatis

Latin

Confutatis maledictis,
flammis acribus addictis,
voca me cum benedictis.
Oro supplex et acclinis,
cor contritum quasi cinis
gere curam mei finis.

English

When the wicked are confounded,
Doomed to flames of woe unbounded,
Call me, with Thy saints sorrounded.
Low I kneel, with heart submission,
See, like ashes my contrition,
Help me in my last condition.

Lacrymosa

Latin

Lacrymosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla,
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce Deus.
Pie Jesu, Domine,
dona eis requiem.
Amen.

English

Ah, that day of tears and mourning!
From the dust of earth returning,
Man for judgement must prepare him;
Spare, o god, in mercy spare him.
Lord, all pitying, Jesu blest,
Grant them Thine eternal rest.
Amen.

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