Dies Irae

Dies Irae

1. 2 Quaver Horn Motif. (What the choir sing when they come in)

2. Relentless triplet upper string accompaniment

   • 8 bars of intro
     • Part A
       • SATB choir in homophonic texture
       • Replicate horn motif
       • Accented quavers
       • Part B
         • Unison- all on D
         • Recurrent 3 chord motif interrupts music every 4 bars
         • Part C
           • Homophonic again
           • New ostinato- very similar to previous
           • Horns play chromatic rising scale- basis of a new chordal theme later.
           • Part D- "Tuba Mirum" theme
             • Ostinato back to normal
             • Unison
             • Rising sequence- notes a third apart
             • Homophonic falling sequence ending on unison D
             • Part E
               • Polyphonic
               • Syallabic treatment of word "Dies"
               • Part F
                 • Unison with sopranos and first tenors singing an octave higher.
                 • Same as part B
                 • Part G
                   • Same as part A but with bass line singing chromatic horn motif from earlier
                   • Part H
                     • Tuba Mirum theme played in instruments
                     • Part I
                       • Choir singing unison D and bass line changes to chromatic scale
                       • The rest is basically just repeated :-)
                         • For more revision:
                           • Dies Irae Cards
                         • Test
                           • Dies Irae Quiz
                     • Instrumental theme

3. 4/4 time signature

4. SATB choir

5. 2 bar ostinato by lower strings

   • Changes after 16 bars then changes every 8 bars after that