The Dies Irae Church chant

DIES IRAE

The Dies Irae (Day of Wrath) comes from the book of Zephaniah in the Bible, warning of God's final judgment (1:15ff.). It was later adapted for a Gregorian (Church) chant. Since it has been used in many Requiem Masses (that is, masses for the dead) it became very well known.
    In turn, the first notes of the chant have been used as a kind of shorthand for many composers who wish to allude to death in their music. Many film composers allude to the chant in their film scores. There are too many to mention. But it's also used in Some Like It Hot as a comic (ironic) underscore. Since our focus was not on music this semester, I didn't note this use of the Dies Irae in my handout.

    But if you listen at least to the first notes of the chant (above) you can identify it when you hear it in the film. In addition, I'm including the last part of Sergei Rachmaninov's popular Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini, which includes variations on a Niccolo Paganini theme. At least four of these variations include the Dies Irae quote. Since it's easy to locate, you can study the last time this motif appears. Just move the bar to 7:55 and you can hear the trombones declaim the motif for the final time right before the end of the Rhapsody. For those interested in romantic music, the video starts with the famous "Eighteenth Variation." You should recognize the melody. It's been used in many Hollywood movies (including Somewhere in Time) and TV commercials!
    NOTE: Do not confuse the Dies Irae Church chant with the Dies Irae movement of the Requiems written by classical composers (Verdi, Berlioz, Mozart, etc.). Those Dies Irae movements only use the text, not the melody, of the chant. The melodies are original.