The Hopkins Requiem
The Hopkins Requiem
A Requiem Mass is a special Catholic ceremony, often a funeral or memorial service, held to pray for the soul of someone who has passed away. The word "Requiem" is Latin for "rest." The opening prayer is "Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine," which means "Grant them eternal rest, O Lord." The religious purpose of a Requiem is to ask God to forgive the sins of the deceased and grant the person peace in heaven. Certain joyful parts of a normal mass such as the "Gloria" are omitted.Â
Requiems are often held during a funeral or on anniversaries to remember the departed. Over time, the prayers of the Requiem Mass inspired grand musical pieces, including the work of composers such as Verdi, Mozart, Fauré, and Hopkins. These pieces are often performed in concert halls as artistic memorials, rather than church services.
The Hopkins Requiem was written over the course of two years during the COVID-19 pandemic and is arranged for SATB choir + piano and string quartet. The Hopkins Requiem was inspired by those of Mozart and Fauré. In addition, it is in memoriam Jacqueline Hopkins's late parents, Harold and Louise Hopkins.
Requiem dona eis Domine et lux perpetua luceat eis. Requiem aeternam dona eis Domine. Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion, et tibi reddetur votum in Jerusalem. Exaudi orationem meam, ad te omnis caro veniet. Requiem aeternam dona eis, Domine! Et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Grant them rest, Lord, and let perpetual light shine on them. Grant them eternal rest, Lord. 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.
Kyrie, eleison.
Christe, eleison.
Lord, have mercy on us.
Christ, have mercy on us.
Dies irae, dies illa Calamitatis et miseriae Ululate in monte sancto meo conturbentur omnes habitatores terrae quia venit dies Domini quia prope est. Requiem aeternam quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini ejus. Amen.
Day of wrath, day of anger, of calamity and misery. Sound the alarm on my Holy Hill. Let all who live in the land tremble, for the day of the Lord is coming. It is close at hand. Eternal rest which was promised to Abraham and his descendants. Amen.
Rex tremendae majestatis, qui salvandos salvas gratis, salva me, fons pietatis.
King of tremendous majesty, who freely saves those worthy ones, save me, source of mercy.
Domine Jesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu. Libera eas ne cadant in obscurum. Hostias et preces tibi, Domine laudis offerimus. Tu sucipe pro animabus illis, quaram hodie memoriam facimus.
Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, liberate the souls of the faithful, departed from the pains of hell and from the bottomless pit. Deliver them lest they fall into darkness. Sacrifices and prayers of praise, Lord, we offer to You. Receive them on behalf of those souls we commemorate today.
Sanctus Rex gloriae, tu solus sanctus, Domine Deus. Jesu Christe, Deum de Deums Deum verum, lumen de lumine, adoramus te. Sanctus.
Holy King of glory, you alone are holy, Lord God. Jesus Christ, God of Gods, the true God, Light of Lights, we adore you. Holy.
Osanna! Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domini. Benedictus quod venit regnum patris nostri David. Osanna in excelsis!
Praise! Blessed is He that comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is the Kingdom of our father David. Praise in the highest!
Agnus Dei qui tollis pecata mundi, misere nobis. Dona nobis pacem.
Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Give us peace.
Et vidi caelum novum et terram novam primum enim caelum et prima terra abiit et mare iam non est sanctam Jerusalem novam vidi descendentem de caelo a Deo paratam sponsam ornatam viro suo. Jerusalem.
And I saw a new heaven and a new earth, for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and there was no longer any sea. I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. Jerusalem.
Amen.