Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart's Requiem in D minor, K. 626, is one of the most iconic and celebrated pieces of sacred music in the Western classical tradition. Composed in 1791, it is shrouded in mystery and intrigue, as Mozart died before completing it. The work was later finished by his student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr, following Mozart's sketches and instructions. The Requiem Mass, intended for a funeral service, is notable for its dramatic intensity, rich orchestration, and profound emotional depth.
One of the standout movements in the Requiem is the "Tuba Mirum." This section opens with a dramatic and foreboding solo by the trombone, which is then joined by the bass soloist. The text of "Tuba Mirum" comes from the Dies Irae sequence, a medieval Latin hymn describing the Last Judgment. The passage describes the sound of the trumpet (tuba) summoning the dead from their graves to face divine judgment.
The "Tuba Mirum" is particularly striking for its vivid musical depiction of the text. The trombone's opening solo represents the trumpet call, creating a powerful and almost apocalyptic atmosphere. As the soloist begins, the music shifts to a more lyrical and contemplative mood, reflecting on the resurrection and the awe-inspiring moment of judgment. The interplay between the soloist and the choir, along with the dynamic orchestration, captures the tension between fear and hope, making this movement one of the most memorable and moving parts of Mozart's Requiem.
Performed at the Silvertown Auditorium in Cape Town, South Africa, on Palm Sunday, 24 March 2024. Presented by the Cape Town Choir (CTC) and Cape Town Orchestra (CTO).
Composed by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (Requiem Mass in D minor, K 626)
Soprano: Christon Southgate
Alto: Hayley Prince
Tenor: Jason Atherton
Bass: Conroy Scott
Trombonist: James George
Cape Town Orchestra
Conducted by: Damian Philander
Latin text:
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?
English translation:
The trumpet will send its wondrous
sound
throughout earth's sepulchres
and gather all before the throne.
Death and nature will be
astounded,
when all creation rises again,
to answer the judgement.
A book will be brought forth,
in which all will be written,
by which the world will be judged.
When the judge takes his place,
what is hidden will be revealed,
nothing will remain unavenged.
What shall a wretch like me say?
Who shall intercede for me,
when the just ones need mercy?
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