6th Movement: Rex tremendae majestatus
The sixth movement of the Requiem, Rex tremendae majestatus, is accompanied by a video tour of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Chartres in Chartres, France. Dies Irae, like each of the composition's movements, was inspired by the beauty and grandeur of some of the world's great cathedrals and churches.
The Text Rex tremendae majestatus (King of tremendous majesty) The text is stanza 8 in the Dies Irae section of the Requiem liturgy. Tradition has it that it originated with St. Gregory the Great in the 4th century, though it is probably a later addition to the Mass. .
The Composition While the Rex tremendae majestatus is one of the Requiem’s shortest movements, I've included a particularly wide range of dynamic expression in its two minutes.
The movement begins with a timpani roll followed by full orchestra and chorus. Then, starting with lyrical strings, the dynamics gradually decrease, from a woodwinds ensemble, to a solo English horn, and finally to the boys alone, stating the movement's brief theme. Then the dynamics start to increase again, as four successively larger groups of strings join the orchestra. When the strings are at full strength, a cymbal crash announces the return of the full orchestra and chorus for the finale. But in the final measures, the boys, supported by the men, are left to quietly finish the movement.
Rex tremendae majestatus is scored for SATB chorus and boys’ choir; strings (24 violins, 8 violas, 8 cellos, 9 double bases;) brass (6 French horns, 6 trumpets;) woodwinds (3 flutes, 3 clarinets, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 1 English horn) and timpani.
LatinText
Rex tremendae majestatus,
qui salvandos salvas gratis,
sale me, fons pietatis.
King of tremendous majesty,
who freely saves those worthy ones,
save me, source of mercy.
