Do you have a favorite Spooky Soundtrack? Some tune that instantly conjures images of imminent doom when you hear it?
The Dies Irae is one seriously spooky melody that you’ve probably heard in dozens of soundtracks for movies, TV shows, and even video games. You may not think you know it, but once you become aware of it, you’ll hear it everywhere!
The Dies Irae melody is centuries old. The tune is actually a Gregorian chant which can be traced back to at least the 13th century when the melody and pre-existing text together were included in the Roman Catholic Requiem Mass, the Mass for the Dead. The text, for which the title translates to ‘Day of Wrath’ by itself speaks of the imminent doom of death and the judgment that follows.
W. A. Mozart may have been one of the first composers to incorporate the melody into new compositions. The context was still similar, as he used it in a Requiem, but this provided the link to composers using the melody outside the Catholic church service.
In the 19th century, the Romantic Era in music, the artistic emphasis was on the expression of emotion and fantasy, evoking moods and feelings, telling stories with the music alone. What better way to evoke images of death and impending doom than to use a familiar melody already associated with death and judgment?
The Dies Irae melody began showing up in the music of Romantic composers such as Franz Liszt, Robert Schumann, and Hector Berlioz, (all composers whose letters have been featured in Arts in Letters!) from whose Symphonie Fantastique the above clip was excerpted. Take a listen to it now if you haven’t already so you can hear the melody in action, on authentic instruments no less!
!) from whose Symphonie Fantastique the above clip was excerpted. Take a listen to it now if you haven’t already so you can hear the melody in action, on authentic instruments no less!
!) from whose Symphonie Fantastique the above clip was excerpted. Take a listen to it now if you haven’t already so you can hear the melody in action, on authentic instruments no less!
Like so many of the best themes, the Dies Irae melody can be easily identified from the first few notes. The tune is very simple, with a narrow range and rhythm. This simplicity lends itself to endless variation, probably one of the reasons so many composer have used it.
After finding multiple examples in film scores, I’m left with the impression that the list of composers who haven’t made use of the Dies Irae is shorter than the list of those who have! There have so many that several compilations of examples have been made. Not surprisingly, these are especially popular this time of year. Here links to just a couple.
A Musical History of Death: ‘Exit Music’ by Tom Allen
I’m warning you, though, once you know the tune, you’ll find it everywhere, from Star Wars to Harry Potter, The Fellowship of the Ring to Game of Thrones, from Friday the 13th to Nightmare Before Christmas, it’s everywhere!!
