Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
Requiem in D Minor
K. 626 (Süssmayr completion)
No piece of music has endured as much confusing mythology, sensationalism, and misinformation as Mozart’s unfinished Requiem. Various plays, operas, and even an Academy-award winning film unfortunately perpetuate fictional anecdotes that scholars continue to repudiate today. Count Walsegg-Stuppach (1763-1827) commissioned the work in memory of his wife, possibly intending to pass off the composition as his own. He sent an anonymous messenger on his behalf, perhaps a clerk from his law office, but certainly not a completely random “mysterious messenger.“ (Sorry movie buffs, but Salieri had nothing to do with it!).
Though Mozart struggled with health issues during the summer of 1791, he maintained an active schedule of composing and travel, accepted commissions, and oversaw his latest opera productions. Mozart did not become seriously ill until the end of November, dying on December 4, 1791. Personal knowledge of his impending death seems unlikely, as well as a charming anecdote of a death-bedside performance of Requiem excerpts by his friends. After his death, portions of the Requiem were performed during the composer’s funeral at St. Michael’s church in Vienna. Mozart was buried in Vienna’s St. Marx cemetery in an unmarked grave, customary at the time.
Shortly after his death, his wife, Constanze, approached several of her husband’s colleagues and students in an attempt to complete the work. Perhaps the legends contribute to the Requiem’s enduring popularity, in addition to its historical significance as the final work by an incomparable genius. One essential unknown issue overshadows the rest: Mozart’s ultimate vision for his incomplete Requiem.
The miraculous and dramatic opening of the “Introitus” portrays a chilling, intimate, and inevitable funeral procession. The chorus abruptly enters, urgently singing “Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine” with accompanying trombones and woodwinds. The mood shifts to a hopeful lyricism during the soprano “Te decet hymnus,” followed by a return to the opening material before an unsettling calm conclusion. As one of the few movements entirely composed by Mozart, it provides a bittersweet glimpse into what the Requiem might have become had the composer lived to complete the entire work.
A relentless and repentant Kyrie pays homage to the Handelian choral double fugue and the final open fifth cadence — neither major nor minor — brings this thrilling section to a stark conclusion. The “Sequence” portion of the Mass for the dead begins with the furious “Dies Irae” followed by “Tuba mirum,” a trombone solo depicting the last trumpet on judgment day (the German Bible describes it as die letzte Posaune — the last trombone). We observe Mozart the opera composer in this movement as solo voices urgently interrupt each other, each commenting on the judgment to come. The chorus returns with opulent vigor in “Rex Tremendae,” hailing the king of glory, then offering a more plaintive and desperate plea for salvation (“Salva me”). The triple-meter “Recordare” provides some of the most lyrical and sublime moments of the Requiem, a beautifully woven counterpoint between the rich basset horns, strings, and vocal soloists. The dramatically contrasting “Confutatis” depicts the fiery pit of hell with furious and unrelenting writing for strings, interrupted yet again with lyrical supplications. The section concludes with “Lacrymosa,” the first eight bars of which may be the last music Mozart ever composed.
We have chosen to perform the completion of the Requiem by Mozart’s student, Franz Xaver Süssmayr. Numerous other renderings exist, all completed in the 20th century, including a 1971 re-orchestration by Benjamin Britten. Süssmayr’s intimate, albeit brief relationship with the composer and the 200-year performance tradition of his completion adequately capture the essence of Mozart’s sacred style.
“Domine Jesu” features shimmering imagery in its text-setting, including breath-taking counterpoint in the “Quam olim Abrahae” fugue, repeated at the conclusion of the next movement, “Hostias.” The next three movements, “Sanctus, Benedictus,” and “Agnus Dei” were entirely composed by Süssmayr. Other completions of the Requiem offer more elaborate versions or omit the “Sanctus” and “Benedictus” altogether. The 25-year-old Süssmayr makes a noble effort in capturing the style of his teacher, particularly in the “Benedictus.” For the final “Lux Aeterna,” Süssmayr recapitulates the music from the opening “Introitus” and “Kyrie,” presumably as his departed teacher wished, and concludes the work with Mozart’s own creation.
— Andrew Clark
The Requiem Text
I. Introitus
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.
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I. Introit
Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. You are praised, God, in Zion, and homage will be offered You in Jerusalem. Hear my prayer, to You all flesh will come. Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them.
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II. Kyrie
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.
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II. Kyrie
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.
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III. Sequenz
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!
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III. Sequence
1. Dies Irae
The day of wrath, that day of anger, will dissolve the world in ashes, as foretold by David and the Sibyl. There will be great trembling when the judge descends from heaven to examine all things closely.
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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?
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2. Tuba mirum
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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3. Rex tremendae
Rex tremendae majestatis, qui salvandos savas gratis, salve me, fons pietatis.
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3. Rex tremendae
King of tremendous majesty, who freely saves those worthy ones, save me, font of mercy.
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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.
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4. Recordare
Remember, kind Jesus, my salvation caused 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. Righteous judge of vengeance, grant me the gift of absolution before the day of retribution. I moan as one who is guilty: owning my shame with a red face; pleading before you, Lord. You, who absolved Mary, and listened to the thief, give me hope also. My prayers are unworthy, but, good Lord, have mercy, and rescue me from eternal fire. Provide me a place among the sheep, and separate me from the goats, guiding me to Your right hand.
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5. Confutatis
Confutatis maledictis, flammis acribus addictis, voca me cum benedictus. Oro supplex et acclinis, cor contritum quasi cinis, gere curam mei finis.
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5. Confutatis
When the accused are confounded and doomed to flames of woe, call me among the blessed. I kneel with submissive heart, my contrition is like ashes, help me in my final condition.
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6. Lacrimosa
Lacrimosa dies illa, qua resurget ex favilla judicandus homo reus. Huic ergo parce, Deus, pie Jesu Domine, dona eis requiem. Amen.
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6. Lacrimosa
On that day of tears and mourning, when all humanity shall rise from the ashes to be judged, spare us by your mercy, Lord. Gentle Lord Jesus, grant them eternal rest. Amen.
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IV. Offertorium
1. 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.
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IV. Offertory
1. Domine Jesu
Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, free the souls of the departed faithful 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, holy Michael, bring them into holy light, as once You promised to Abraham and his descendants.
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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.
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2. Hostias
Sacrifices and prayers of praise, Lord, we offer to You. Receive them in behalf of those souls we commemorate today. And let them, Lord, pass from death to life,as once You promised to Abraham and his descendants.
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V. 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.
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V. Lamb of God
Lamb 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 eternal rest.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant them eternal rest forever.
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VI. Communio
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.
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VI. Communion
Let eternal light shine on them, Lord, as with Your saints in eternity, because You are merciful. Grant them eternal rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them, as with Your saints in eternity, because You are merciful.
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