The Requiem: An English Translation

I am so happy that we are tackling Jenkins' requiem this season. It is a beautiful, modern take on the requiem mass which so many composers have put their personal stamp on before. The Pink Singers sang Mozart's version not that long ago, so these lyrics are not really new to us. That said I thought it might be nice to have a loose English translation as a gentle reminder, especially for those of us whose Latin is non-existant!

I have only included the words to the Introit, Dies Irae, Lacrimosa and In Paradisum because those are the parts we will be performing for summer 2007, but here is hoping that we get to do the whole work, perhaps with the LGSO. That would be a dream come true for me!

Introit: Requiem Aeternam and Kyrie Eleison

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.

Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Kyrie, eleison.

Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
and let perpetual light shine on them.
You are praised, God, in Zion,
and homage will be paid to You in Jerusalem.
Hear my prayer,
to You all flesh will come.
Grant them eternal rest, Lord,
and let perpetual light shine on them.

Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Lord, have mercy on us.

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!

Day of wrath, day of anger
will dissolve the world in ashes,
as foretold by David and the Sibyl.
Great trembling there will be
when the Judge descends from heaven
to examine all things closely.

Lacrimosa

Lacrimosa dies illa,
qua resurget ex favilla
judicandus homo reus.
Huic ergo parce, Deus,
pie Jesu Domine,
dona eis requiem. Amen.

That day of tears and mourning,
when from the ashes shall arise,
all humanity to be judged.
Spare us by your mercy, Lord,
gentle Lord Jesus,
grant them eternal rest. Amen.

In Paradisum

In paradisum deducant te angeli,
in tuo adventu
suscipiant te martyres,
et perducant te
in civitatem sanctam Jerusalem.
Chorus angelorum te suscipiat,
et cum Lazaro quondam paupere
aeternam habeas requiem.

May the angels lead you into paradise,
may the martyrs receive you
in your coming,
and may they guide you
into the holy city, Jerusalem.
May the chorus of angels receive you
and with Lazarus once poor
may you have eternal rest.

The only choral parts remaining are the Rex Tremendae, Confutatis, Pie Jesu and Lux Aeterna!