Free Republic

There’s a musical piece you’ve likely heard many times before—but unless you have a particularly trained ear and are also hip to the catalog of Medieval Latin hymns, you probably haven’t noticed it. It’s a musical pattern from “Dies Irae,” a haunting chant for the dead, and CBC Radio host Tom Allen has put together an impressive video history of the work.

DIES IRAE Day of wrath, day that will dissolve the world into burning coals, as David bore witness with the Sibyl. How great a tremor is to be, when the judge is to come briskly shattering every (grave). A trumpet sounding an astonishing sound through the tombs of the region drives all (men) before the throne. Death will be stunned and (so) will Nature, when arises (man) the creature responding to the One judging. The written book will be brought forth, in which the whole (record of evidence) is contained whence the world is to be judged. Therefore when the...

It's taken me a week to think of it, but, on the occasion of the Pope's death, I think I'll translate a few hymns from the Office of the Dead. This one comes from Solesmes' Liber Hymnarius. If you're looking for Dies Iræ, look elsewhere; there are abundant translations on the internet. By the way, does anyone know if they sang Dies Iræ at the pope's funeral?I'll note in passing that the Italian daily Corriere della Sera is reporting that the Vatican is collecting evidence of the pope's sanctity; apparently a number of miracles had already been reported during...