Dies Irae - Classical's Answer to Metal

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Trespass

AEADGBEA
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Dies Irae is a hymn composed around the 16th century. It describes the coming of the apocalypse, and has a simple melody attached. Several famous composers (Mozart, Verdi) have wrote, using the simple melody, parts for the Requiem Mass.

The above is Verdi's version of "Dies Irae", 'Day of Reckoning'. And yes, until the Catholic church got rid of it, this was played during mass (along with other powerful songs like it, because they broadcast negative aspects of Catholicism).

Here is the poem/hymn associated with it, in English form (not literal, adapted for same metre and rhythm as original latin)

Day of wrath! O day of mourning!
See fulfilled the prophets' warning,
Heaven and earth in ashes burning!

Oh what fear man's bosom rendeth,
when from heaven the Judge descendeth,
on whose sentence all dependeth.

Wondrous sound the trumpet flingeth;
through earth's sepulchers it ringeth;
all before the throne it bringeth.

Death is struck, and nature quaking,
all creation is awaking,
to its Judge an answer making.

Lo! the book, exactly worded,
wherein all hath been recorded:
thence shall judgment be awarded.

When the Judge his seat attaineth,
and each hidden deed arraigneth,
nothing unavenged remaineth.

What shall I, frail man, be pleading?
Who for me be interceding,
when the just are mercy needing?

King of Majesty tremendous,
who dost free salvation send us,
Fount of pity, then befriend us!

Think, good Jesus, my salvation
cost thy wondrous Incarnation;
leave me not to reprobation!

Faint and weary, thou hast sought me,
on the cross of suffering bought me.
shall such grace be vainly brought me?

Righteous Judge! for sin's pollution
grant thy gift of absolution,
ere the day of retribution.

Guilty, now I pour my moaning,
all my shame with anguish owning;
spare, O God, thy suppliant groaning!

Thou the sinful woman savedst;
thou the dying thief forgavest;
and to me a hope vouchsafest.

Worthless are my prayers and sighing,
yet, good Lord, in grace complying,
rescue me from fires undying!

With thy favored sheep O place me;
nor among the goats abase me;
but to thy right hand upraise me.

While the wicked are confounded,
doomed to flames of woe unbounded
call me with thy saints surrounded.

Low I kneel, with heart submission,
see, like ashes, my contrition;
help me in my last condition.



Sounds awesome to me :yesway:
 

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D

Desecrated

You should check out the stravinsky version, and berlioz.
 

Trespass

AEADGBEA
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You should check out the stravinsky version, and berlioz.

I already have :lol: I love various mass requiems and old gregorian chant.

Propaganda

So is a lot of things in life. Deal with it.

Fuck, I remember singing the Faure version with my old school choir!

Wow thats crazy.

Many, many 'epic'-style metal bands have covered all or part of 'Dies Irae.'

... I don't really listen to metal, sorry :(
 

NDG

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I went to a conservative Catholic school, so this kind of thing always reminds me of that. I never cared for the Catholicism, but the music always spoke to me. :yesway:

On a tangent, my grade school's church had one of those big ass pipe organs, so pieces like Bach's "Toccata & Fuege" remind me of that too. The sound of those things is so haunting (to me); I love it.
 

Jongpil Yun

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That and O Fortuna, anyways.

IMO Vivaldi's Summer Presto sounds a lot like a speed metal piece, and a lot of the really dramatic piano pieces (Mazeppa, Wilde Jagt are good examples) just have tons of the sturm and drang of metal.
 
D

Desecrated

That and O Fortuna, anyways.

IMO Vivaldi's Summer Presto sounds a lot like a speed metal piece, and a lot of the really dramatic piano pieces (Mazeppa, Wilde Jagt are good examples) just have tons of the sturm and drang of metal.

I've always thought that the last winter song is pure black metal, there is a part about 2 minutes in where the violins are grinding like hell.
 

Trespass

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I'll say that I don't believe any "metal" versions of any classical song can even come close to the tonal grandeur of orchestra, and that honestly, I don't think it should be attempted. I hope I don't recieve flack for that, but I truly believe it.

Also, Shostakovitch is extremely epic as well:

 
D

Desecrated

I'll say that I don't believe any "metal" versions of any classical song can even come close to the tonal grandeur of orchestra, and that honestly, I don't think it should be attempted. I hope I don't recieve flack for that, but I truly believe it.

Also, Shostakovitch is extremely epic as well:



nope your right, that's why we need more metalbands playing with a full orchestra.
 
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