Pierre St Hilaire, tenor, writes:
"Shulamit, I have brushed my latin and have taken the liberty to do a word-for-word translation of the Requiem. Of course it doesn't make for great English, but it allows the singer to comprehend the meaning of each individual word in the text. For me, comprehending every word makes a difference, though the translation reads like pidgin. The translation on your website from Dr Jervis is the best I have read, by the way.
When a Latin word cannot be translated by a single English word (Latin is an extremely compact language), I have connected the corresponding English words by a hyphen. I've also removed most of the subjunctives except for "Luceat" ("may shine") to make things simpler.
I started this as a side project, but it ended taking me more time than I had expected. It was fun, though, and at last these years of studying Latin in school have proven useful for something!
If you think it might be useful, feel free to share it with the rest of the group."
Introit:
● Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
○ Rest eternal give to-them, O Lord, and light perpetual may-shine on-them.
● Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem.
○ You befits hymn, O God, in Zion, and to-you will-be-returned a-vow in Jerusalem.
● Exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis caro veniet.
○ Hear prayer my, to you all flesh will-come.
Kyrie:
● Kyrie eleison. Christe eleison. Kyrie eleison.
○ Lord have-mercy. Christ have-mercy. Lord have-mercy.
Sequentia:
Dies Irae
● Dies irae, dies illa, Solvet saeclum in favilla, Teste David cum Sibylla.
○ Day of-wrath, day that, will-dissolve the-world into ash, witness David with Sibyl.
● Quantus tremor est futurus, Quando judex est venturus, Cuncta stricte discussurus!
○ How-much trembling is future, when the-judge is coming, all-things strictly
to-examine!
Tuba mirum
● Tuba mirum spargens sonum, Per sepulcra regionum, Coget omnes ante thronum.
○ Trumpet wondrous scattering sound, through tombs of-regions, will-gather all
before throne.
● Mors stupebit et natura, Cum resurget creatura, Judicanti responsura.
○ Death will-be-amazed and nature, when will-rise-again creature, to-the-judging
answer.
● Liber scriptus proferetur, In quo totum continetur, Unde mundus judicetur.
○ Book written will-be-brought-forth, in which all is-contained, from-which world
will-be-judged.
● Judex ergo cum sedebit, Quidquid latet apparebit, Nil inultum remanebit.
○ Judge therefore when will-sit, whatever lies-hidden will-appear, nothing
unavenged will-remain.
● Quid sum miser tunc dicturus? Quem patronum rogaturus, Cum vix justus sit securus?
○
What am-I wretched then to-say? What patron to-beg, when barely the-just are
safe?
Rex tremendae
● Rex tremendae majestatis, Qui salvandos salvas gratis, Salva me, fons pietatis.
○ King of tremendous majesty, who the-saved you-save freely, save me, source
of-pity.
recordare
● Recordare, Jesu pie, Quod sum causa tuae viae, Ne me perdas illa die.
○ Remember, Jesus merciful, that I-am cause of-your way, not me destroy on-that
day.
● Quaerens me sedisti lassus, Redemisti Crucem passus, Tantus labor non sit cassus.
○ Seeking me you-sat weary, you-redeemed Cross having-suffered, so-great labor
not may-be fruitless.
● Juste Judex ultionis, Donum fac remissionis, Ante diem rationis.
○ Just Judge of-vengeance, gift make of-forgiveness, before day of-reckoning.
● Ingemisco, tamquam reus, Culpa rubet vultus meus, Supplicanti parce, Deus.
○ I-groan, as guilty, guilt reddens face my, to-the-one-supplicating spare, O God.
● Qui Mariam absolvisti, Et latronem exaudisti, Mihi quoque spem dedisti.
○ Who Mary you-absolved, and thief you-heard, to-me also hope you-have-given.
● Preces meae non sunt dignae, Sed tu bonus fac benigne, Ne perenni cremer igne.
○ Prayers my not are worthy, but you good do kindly, lest by-everlasting
I-may-be-burned fire.
● Inter oves locum praesta, Et ab haedis me sequestra, Statuens in parte dextra.
○ Among sheep place grant, and from goats me separate, placing on part right.
confutatis
● Confutatis maledictis, Flammis acribus addictis, Voca me cum benedictis.
○ Confounded the-accursed, to-flames bitter assigned, call me with the-blessed.
● Oro supplex et acclinis, Cor contritum quasi cinis, Gere curam mei finis.
○ I-pray suppliant and prostrate, heart contrite as ashes, bear care of-my end.
Lacrimosa
● Lacrimosa dies illa, Qua resurget ex favilla, Judicandus homo reus.
○ Tearful day that, on-which will-rise-again from ash, to-be-judged man guilty.
● Huic ergo parce, Deus, Pie Jesu Domine, Dona eis requiem. Amen.
○
To-this-one therefore spare, O God, merciful Jesus O Lord, give to-them rest.
Amen.
Offertorium:
Domine jesus
● Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de
poenis inferni, et de profundo lacu.
○ O Lord Jesus Christ, King of-glory, free souls of-all faithful deceased from
punishments of-hell, and from deep lake.
● libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum.
○ Free them from mouth of-lthe-ion, lest swallow them Tartarus, lest they-fall into
darkness.
● sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam.
○ But standard-bearer holy Michael present them into light holy.
● Quam olim Abrahae promisisti, et semini ejus.
○ Which once to-Abraham you-promised, and to-seed his.
Hostias
● Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus.
○ Victims and prayers to-you, O Lord, praise we-offer.
● Tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus.
○ You receive for souls those, of-which today remembrance we-make.
● Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam.
○ Make them, O Lord, from death transit to life.
● Quam olim Abrahae promisisti, et semini ejus.
○ Which once to-Abraham you-promised, and to-seed his.
Sanctus:
● Sanctus, Sanctus, Sanctus, Dominus Deus Sabaoth. Pleni sunt coeli et terra gloria tua.
Hosanna in excelsis.
○ Holy, Holy, Holy, Lord God of-hosts. Full are heavens and earth of-glory your.
Hosanna in the-highest.
Benedictus:
● Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Hosanna in excelsis.
○ Blessed who comes in name of-the-Lord. Hosanna in the-highest.
Agnus Dei:
● Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata mundi, dona eis requiem. Agnus Dei, qui tollis peccata
mundi, dona eis requiem sempiternam.
○
Lamb of-God, who take-away the-sins of-the-world, give to-them rest. Lamb
of-God, who take-away the-sins of-the-world, give to-them rest everlasting.
Communio:
● Lux aeterna luceat eis, Domine, cum Sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es.
○ Light eternal may-shine upon-them, O Lord, with Saints yours in eternity, for
merciful you-are.
● Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine, et lux perpetua luceat eis.
○ Rest eternal give to-them, O Lord, and light perpetual may-shine on-them.
● cum Sanctis tuis in aeternum, quia pius es
○with Saints yours in eternity, for merciful you-are.
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