IV. Offertory
The Offertory in the Requiem Mass normally consists of two movements: the Domine Jesu followed by the Hostias. However, I have combined the two into a single movement, with an unaccompanied men's choir singing the Domine Jesu text and a contertenor/contralto soloist singing the Hostias text above it. Below are the score and a midi rendition, as well as the text and a translation
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Latin Text
[Men's choir] Domine Iesu Christe, Rex gloriae, libera animas omnium fidelium defunctorum de poenis inferni et de profundo lacu. Libera eas de ore leonis, ne absorbeat eas Tartarus, ne cadant in obscurum; sed signifer sanctus Michael repraesentet eas in lucem sanctam, quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini eius. [Countertenor/Contralto soloist] Hostias et preces tibi, Domine, laudis offerimus; tu suscipe pro animabus illis, quarum hodie memoriam facimus. Fac eas, Domine, de morte transire ad vitam, quam olim Abrahae promisisti et semini eius. |
Translation
Literal (and crude) translation by Mary Fan
[ Men's choir] Lord Jesus Christ, King of glory, free the souls of all the faithful departed from infernal punishment and the deep lake. Free them from the mouth of the lion, do not let Tartarus swallo them, nor let them fall into darkness; but may the standard-bearer Saint Michael lead them into holy light, as once you promised Abraham and his seed. [Countertenor/Contralto soloist] Sacrifices and prayers to you, Lord, of praise we offer you; May you accept them on behalf of the souls whom today we memorialize. Let them, Lord, from death to pass into life, as once you promised Abraham and his seed. |
Random fact: The concept for this movement was a scene in which the choir was the congregation and the soloist was the priest.