Web References in Mozart's Requiem

How Mozart Wrote His Requiem

In late November [Mozart] convinced musicians from the nearby Freihaustheater to come to his house and sing through the parts of the Requiem that he’d so far completed. This they did, while gathered round the bedridden composer, who bravely attempted to sing the alto parts himself. Mozart must have known the gravity of his situation, though: pulling his student Franz Xaver Süssmayr close, he instructed him on how to complete the piece. (from The At Home Guide: Mozart’s Last Year and the Requiem; no sources for this information are given.)

There’s quite a bit of dispute about whether or not this scene actually happened, but it is undoubtedly true that Mozart’s manuscript has additional material in Süssmayr’s handwriting. I love the idea of the musicians coming in and singing around his bed! Whatever did or did not happen in his final days, it is sadly true that this incredibly talented composer died in in early December, at age 35.

If I tried to explain all of the complications that then ensued in the story of the Requiem’s completion, early performances and publication, I would probably exhaust the patience of even the most ardent fan of this piece. If you do want to get the full story of the incredible twists and turns that finally led to the masterpiece we have today, I would encourage you to read the post at a website dedicated to the life and music of Salieri.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=USe-wZ0AOQQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Introit” and “Kyrie”

Mozart takes these two simple prayers and weaves them into “a stunning double fugue that symbolically fuses a stern, noble subject for Kyrie eleison with a more humanized one for Christe eleison.” (ClassicalNotes)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=GC_m_5Ow7ec%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Dies Irae”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=RKJur8wpfYM%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Tuba Mirum”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=wH71cC7Lb4s%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Rex Tremendae”

On the other hand, you can compose religious music without being devout; Benjamin Britten, Johannes Brahms and Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote first-class Requiems. Mozart himself never spoke much about his spiritual beliefs, and contemporaries didn’t take note of a religious side. (“Was Mozart a Christian Composer?”)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=SKityhJZDV0%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Recordare”

Here’s the really interesting thing: sheep and goats were usually in the same herd. A clear explanation of this symbolism can be found here:

Since at least the time of John Chrysostom (ca. 344/354-407), commentators have sought to explain why the goats should stand for the rejected on Judgment Day. One says it is because of the goat’s unruly nature, another because of his lust and bad smell. But the image of sheep versus goat is possibly not as complicated as that. Both animals mingle together in the same herd—just as righteous people and otherwise mingle together in the world—but the great Shepherd and Judge can easily tell the difference.

If you were to read the entire passage in Matthew, you’d see that the goats are quite surprised that they’re being categorized as such. Now that you’ve read all about this scene, go back up and look at the illustration I used to head this section. Do you see that there are sheep and goats in the same flock?

“Demons: Ancient Superstition or Historical Reality?”)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=tbGdEDgSelA%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Confutatis”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=fjtwyZAhCcs%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Lacrimosa”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=Ym8b3bC_Fq4%3Ffeature%3Doembed

Then the touching, beautiful and completely inaccurate depiction of Mozart’s funeral, using the “Lacrimosa” as the music.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TUt4DfGnyJQ%3Ffeature%3Doembed

And here’s a re-written version using the fugal “Amen,” which I don’t necessarily like but will leave you to decide about. The performance itself is excellent.

https://youtube.com/watch?v=nahclOC1MTk%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Domine Jesu”

https://youtube.com/watch?v=lXL8zhXCxg0%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Hostias”

The roots and cognates of host are many – going back to the Indo-European word that means both “stranger” and “guest”—as you can see from the related words host, guest, hospitality, hostel, hospital, hostile, and hostage, as well as hosts, meaning “armies.” These levels of meaning give added richness to our understanding of the Eucharistic presence of Christ, who is Stranger, Guest, Victim, and Host. (“Why Is the Eucharist Called the ‘Host’?”)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=jpWJXoEF2hA%3Ffeature%3Doembed

“Sanctus” and “Benedictus”

“Hosts,” as one source puts it,

may designate Jehovah as either (1) God of the armies of earth, or (2) God of the armies of the stars, or (3) God of the unseen armies of angels; or perhaps it may include all these ideas. (BibleStudyTools.com)

https://youtube.com/watch?v=DpQoKW-1VbE%3Ffeature%3Doembed