LACRYMOSA DIES ILLA sheet music by Mozart (Requiem Mass in D Minor k. 626) OPERA AND ORIGINAL VOCAL SCORE (English…

The chords begin piano on a rocking rhythm in 128, intercut with quarter rests, which will be reprised by the choir after two measures, on Lacrymosa dies illa (“This tearful day”). Then, after two measures, the sopranos begin a diatonic progression, in disjointed eighth-notes on the text resurget (“will be reborn”), then legato and chromatic on a powerful crescendo. The choir is forte by m. 8, at which point Mozart’s contribution to the movement is interrupted by his death.Süssmayr brings the choir to a reference of the Introit and ends on an Amen cadence. Discovery of a fragmentary Amen fugue in Mozart’s hand has led to speculation that it may have been intended for the Requiem. Indeed, many modern completions (such as Levin’s) complete Mozart’s fragment. Some sections of this movement are quoted in the Requiem mass of Franz von Suppé, who was a great admirer of Mozart. Ray Robinson, the music scholar and president (from 1969 to 1987) of the Westminster Choir College, suggests that Süssmayr used materials from Credo of one of Mozart’s earlier masses, Mass in C major, K. 220 “Sparrow” in completing this movement.