Program Notes – Music History Writing Lab
October 6, 2009
Requiem Aeternam from Ego sum Resurrectio: Gregorian Chant for the Dead
Performed by: Aurora Surgit
Directed by: Alessio Randon
Soloist: Alessio Randon
This work is for masses for the dead. Sung in Latin, Gregorian Chant’s native language, this performance features a soprano section responded to by a solo male voice, with a return to the soprano section. This particular version of the Requiem Aeternam was written in the tenth century, according to Naxos Music Library. It is in the sixth mode, also known as the Hypolydian mode. This means that the piece starts and ends on F, and the range of the pitches extends above and below F. According to Wikipedia, mode six was typically used for devout, tearful, and pious works. This is quite appropriate for a mass for the dead.
The latin text reads and the English Translation (according to the Perish of Saint Matthew):
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis. and let perpetual light shine on them.
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, You are praised, God, in Zion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. and homage will be paid to You in Jerusalem.
Exaudi orationem meam, Hear my prayer,
ad te omnis care veniet. to You all flesh will come.
Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
et lux perpetua luceat eis. and let perpetual light shine on them.
Works Cited
"About this Recording." NaxosMusicLibrary.com. Web. 06 Oct. 2009.
"English Translation of Mozart's Requiem." The Parish of Saint Matthew: The Episcopal Church in Pacific Palisades. Web. 06 Oct. 2009.
"Musical mode -." Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Web. 06 Oct. 2009.
Katrina Niciejewski said:
ReplyDeleteI liked the layout of these ntoes. They are very eye pleasing.
I enjoy how you say that mode six is used for the devout, pious works. This is most interesting, but you might want to simplify the description of the hypolydian mode.
Good works cited
Nice adding names of soloist
quick pace
I agree with the wikipedia comment [made by Patrick]
Patrick Caroll said:
ReplyDeleteI really liked how it was easy to read.
some spelling errors - Parrish, not Perish
I'm curious aobut the historical accuracy of the performance: your mentioned a soprano section, does that mean the performance has been modified to include women? Perhaps you could touch on that
Instead of quoting wikipedia, try to look for the wiki's sources.
what is a mass for the dead? perhaps explaining this could help the reader understand and enjoy the performance.
Very nice layout. I like how the text is in one place, lyrics in another and so on.
One note from me:
ReplyDeleteThe word document that I have has a very nice layout involving the Latin being in Italics, and two well defined columns: one for the Latin, one for the English translation, which was not an acceptable format for this blog.
This is the reason it took me so very long to post this, I kept fiddling around with this silly site to get it to work, but even multiple spaces and tabs become compact, so I gave up. I wish to emphasize that I was present for this peer reviewing, and that the assignment was done on time, even if I didn't post this right away.