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| '''Dies Iræ''' is a famous ] hymn written by ]. It opens with the words: | '''Dies Iræ''' is a famous ] ] written by ]. It opens with the words: | ||
| :''Dies Iræ! dies illa''<br> | :''Dies Iræ! dies illa''<br> | ||
Revision as of 00:31, 16 February 2003
Dies Iræ is a famous Latin hymn written by Thomas of Celaeno. It opens with the words:
- Dies Iræ! dies illa
- Solvet sæclum in favilla
- Teste David cum Sibylla!
(Day of Wrath! Upon that day, the world will melt away, according to David and the Sibyl!)
The poem continues to describe the day of judgment, the last trumpet summoning souls before the throne of God, where the good will be delivered and the evil will be cast into eternal flames.
The hymn, set to a sombre Gregorian chant, was a part of the Roman Catholic Requiem service, the Mass for the dead. It also forms part of the liturgy of All Souls Day. The words have been set to music by many composers, usually as part of a requiem, of whom Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart, Giuseppe Verdi, and Hector Berlioz's versions are the most frequently performed.
The traditional Gregorian chant melody associated with the dies irae has also been quoted in a number of classical pieces, among them Berlioz's Symphonie Fantastique and several pieces by Sergei Rachmaninov, including Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.
External links
- Text of Dies Iræ at The Latin Library: http://www.thelatinlibrary.com/diesirae.html