Mozart Requiem Mass in D Minor X - Benedictus

John Eliot Gardiner conducts the English Baroque Soloists and the Monteverdi Choir. This performance was filmed at the Palau de la Musica Catalana, Barcelona in Dec. 1991.

A Requiem Mass in the Roman Catholic tradition is a service designed to pray for the souls of the departed. The parts of the liturgy that are meant to be sung are what constitute all Requiem Mass compositions, including Mozart's.

The structure is as follows:
1. Introit
2. Kyrie
3. Sequence: a. Dies irae b. Tuba mirum c. Rex tremendae d. Recordare e. Confutatis f. Lacrimosa
4. Offertory: a. Domine Jesu Christe b. Hostias
5. Sanctus
6. Benedictus
7. Agnus Dei
8. Lux Aeterna

Mozart died before finishing the Requiem Mass, and his wife Constanze gave the task of finishing the work to a pupil of Mozart's named Süssmayr. From the Sanctus onward, the Requiem is the creation of Süssmayr, though he did use portions of the Introit and Kyrie for the Lux Aeterna, as requested by Mozart and as per tradition.

Despite, or maybe partially because of, the controversy surrounding this Requiem Mass, it is widely regarded as Mozart's greatest masterpiece.

Latin Lyrics and English translation follow:

Category:

Music

Tags:

• mozart
• amadeus
• requiem
• mass
• minor
• benedictus
• dies
• bach
• classical
• beethoven
• roman
• catholic
• confutatis
• lacrimosa

[MattBrannFan]

it's awesome. I think the conductor particularly used the authentic instruments in the orchestra. The sounds are wonderful. I like it. Moreover, the sound balance between the chorus and orchestra is great.  I also like the soloists. Awesome.

[Clarinet16]

perfect performance.

jaja the tenor seems niles from the nany

[NormanStansfield1]

@sasha42196 I think you are correct. Oddly, this is one of my favorite movements but the music is fairly simple and the lyrics are fairly repetitive. The quartet of singers brings it alive. Anyone have the lyrics?

Also in the other bits - the lyrics are about a person's death and how they will be judged by God while pleading for mercy. So incredibly powerful. The question is did Mozart write the lyrics or are they based on the liturgy.

[sasha42196]

@Art2Fly Funny you should say this. Mozart actually did not write this movement. I have to say that the provenance of various parts of Requiem is not very well established, but I think there's a consensus on the part of most scholars that Benedictus was added by Sussmayr who completed the Requiem after Mozart's death.

[masonbarge]

I was utterly surprised by the fantastic tone and precision. Sensational! Gardiner and the players -- BRAVO! First rate music from people who are clearly passionate about the music. They shame many larger, richer, and better-known orchestras and voices.

[Baruch0710]

One word: beautiful!



[gpeddino]

I love the fact that the chorus and the soloists are not reading throughout the performance. It gives a kind of authenticity, I think.

[CoralIFSC]

Belo contralto

[Art2Fly]

This is probably the most authentic version of Mozart's Requiem I have heard to this date...

[forpusaymara]

Anne Sofie sounds good as usual :)

[orunitin]

ジュスマイア補作ですが素晴らしいです。

[rafkny]

I have all of these in a play list that I will put on my 55 inch tv. I love this piece so much. Thanks.