Today's Concert

The opening line of the Requiem Mass, “Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.”, sets the stage for all that is to come in today’s performance. The Requiem Mass, at its heart, is a gift, a token of remembrance for the person (or people) who have died and are preceding us into whatever is in the great beyond. There is no lack of loss to memorialize in this collaboration of the Arvada Chorale, the Flatirons Community Orchestra, and soloists. We acknowledge the struggles and losses of war in Ukraine, pandemic deaths of friends, families and in our community, as well as individual grief. We offer comfort through this music to ourselves and our audiences.

The first funeral mass that scholars generally acknowledge as using the phrase “Requiem aeternam…” was composed sometime in the mid 1400s by Johannes Ockeghem. He used chant melodies (music sung a cappella by one person or the assembled in unison). The original content of the Requiem Mass was strictly religious, using funeral rites and church texts. Through time, the Requiem has grown into a remembrance service or concert that may or may not use the Latin service as the base, may or may not have vocal music at all, and may or may not have a mix of secular and religious text included.

Mozart’s Requiem Mass in D Minor is a traditional Latin mass and is a product of its time. Like so many of his works, it unites the past and the future. Both this Requiem and his Mass in C Major incorporate elements of J.S. Bach’s music (past) and use effects within the orchestra/choral parts to express more emotions and freedom than other composers of the era (future).

As was frequently the case with his compositions, Mozart was working on a commission for a nobleman in the creation of the Requiem Mass. However, the Requiem remained unfinished by Mozart at his own death; his student Franz Süssmayr completed the work. How much of it was finished using Mozart’s sketches and how much was Süssmayr’s own work is the subject of much debate. What we do know is that the music and text combine to create one of the great choral masterworks of all time.

Thank you for attending today’s performance. We hope this music brings you solace and helps shine a little light on your day.

- Marla Wasson, Artistic Director

INTROIT

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis care veniet.

Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.

You are praised, God, in Zion, and homage will be paid to You in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer, all flesh shall come to You.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.

KYRIE

Kyrie, eleison.

Christe, eleison.

Kyrie, eleison.

Lord, have mercy on us.

Christ, have mercy on us.

Lord, have mercy on us.

SEQUENCE

1. Dies irae

Dies irae, dies illa

Solvet saeclum in favilla,

teste David cum Sibylla.

Quantus tremor est futurus,

quando judex est venturus,

cuncta stricte discussurus!

Day of wrath, day of anger,

the world will dissolve in ashes,

as David and the Sibyl foretold.

How great will be the quaking,

when the Judge descends

to examine all!

2. Tuba mirum

Tuba mirum spargens sonum

per sepulcra regionum,

coget omnes ante thronum.

Mors stupebit et natura,

cum resurget creatura,

judicanti responsura.

Liber scriptus proferetur,

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 trumpet will send its wondrous sound throughout earth's sepulchers,

and gather all before the throne.

Death and nature will be halted,

when all creation rises again,

to respond to the Judge.

A book will be brought forth,

in which all will be written,

and from which the world will be judged.

When the judge takes his place,

what is hidden will be revealed,

no sin will remain unpunished.

What shall a wretch like me say?

Who shall intercede for me,

When even the just ones need mercy?

3. Rex tremendae

Rex tremendae majestatis,

qui salvandos savas gratis,

salve me, fons pietatis.

Almighty and awesome Ruler

who freely saves those worthy ones,

Save me, O fount of mercy.

4. Recordare

Recordare, Jesu pie,

quod sum causa tuae viae;

ne me perdas illa die.

Quaerens me, sedisti lassus,

redemisti crucem passus;

tantus labor non sit cassus.

Juste judex ultionis,

donum fac remissionis

ante diem rationis.

Ingemisco, tamquam 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 haedis me sequestra,

Statuens in parte dextra.

Remember, merciful Jesus,

I am the cause of Your suffering;

do not forsake me on that day.

Faint and weary you have sought me, redeemed me, suffering on the cross;

may such great effort not be in vain.

Just Judge of vengeance,

grant me the gift of absolution

before the day of reckoning.

I moan as one who is guilty:

owning my shame with a red face;

suppliant before you, Lord.

You, who absolved Mary,

and listened to the thief,

give me hope also.

My prayers are unworthy,

but, kind Lord, have mercy,

and rescue me from eternal fire.

Grant me a place among the sheep,

and separate me from the goats,

setting me at your right hand.

5. Confutatis

Confutatis maledictis,

flammis acribus addictis,

voca me cum benedictus.

Oro supplex et acclinis,

cor contritum quasi cinis,

gere curam mei finis.

When the cursed ones are condemned

to flames of woe,

call me with the blessed.

I kneel with submissive heart,

my contrition is like ashes,

have care for my fate.

6. Lacrimosa

Lacrimosa dies illa,

qua resurget ex favilla

judicandus homo reus.

Huic ergo parce, Deus,

Pie Jesu Domine,

dona eis requiem. Amen.

That day of tears and mourning,

when from the ashes shall arise

all humanity to be judged.

Spare us by your mercy, Lord,

Merciful Lord Jesus,

grant them eternal rest. Amen.

OFFERTORY

I. Domine Jesu

Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae,

libera animas omnium fidelium

defunctorum de poenis inferni

et de profundo lacu.

Libera eas de ore leonis,

ne absorbeat eas tartarus,

ne cadant in obscurum.

Sed signifer sanctus Michael

repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam.

Quam olim Abrahae promisisti

et semini ejus.

Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory,

liberate the souls of the faithful departed from the pains of hell

and from the bottomless pit.

Deliver them from the lion's mouth,

lest hell swallow them up,

lest they fall into darkness.

Let the standard-bearer, blessed Michael,

bring them into holy light.

As was promised to Abraham

and his descendants.

2. Hostias

Hostias et preces tibi, Domine,

laudis offerimus.

Tu sucipe pro animabus illis,

quaram hodie memoriam facimus.

Fac eas, Domine,

de morte transire ad vitam,

Quam olim Abrahae promisisti

et semini ejus.

Sacrifices and prayers of praise, Lord,

we offer to You.

Receive them on behalf of those souls

we memorialize today.

And let them, Lord,

pass from death to that life

which was promised to Abraham

and his descendants.

SANCTUS

Sanctus. Sanctus, Sanctus,

Dominus Deus Sabaoth!

Pleni suni coeli et terra gloria tua.

Osanna in excelsis.

Holy, holy, holy,

Lord God of Hosts

Heaven and earth are full of Your glory.

Hosanna in the highest.

BENEDICTUS

Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini.

Osanna in excelsis.

Blessed is He who comes in the name of the Lord. Hosanna in the highest!

AGNUS DEI

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,

dona eis requiem.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,dona eis requiem.

Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi,

dona eis requiem sempiternam

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal restLamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, Grant them eternal rest.

Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them everlasting rest.

COMMUNION

Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine,

cum sanctis tuis in aeternum,

quia pius es.

Requiem aeternum dona eis, Domine,

et Lux perpetua luceat eis,

cum Sanctus tuis in aeternum,

quia pius es.

Let eternal light shine on them, Lord,

with Your saints in eternity,

for You are merciful.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,

and let perpetual light shine on them