Uploaded July 2025 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
***** "DAY OF WRATH" - a ferocious storm of artistic fury meant to describe raw terror of the apocalypse. The piano delivers crashing blows and a relentless driving pulse. This is a choral showpiece!
This recording - TBB & Piano; performed by WESTLAKE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL, New Zealand; David Squire, director; Sheryl Clarke, collaborative pianist; Alliance Music #0606 Commissioned by Dr. Gary Schwartzkoff and the Singing Statesmen.
"Dies Irae" is a Latin poem on the subject of the Last Judgment. Attributed to a Franciscan monk named Tomas de Celante (1190-c. 1255), the complete poem contains 18 rhymed stanzas. An unknown author added the "Pie Jesu" couplet and the "Amen." Little did this Franciscan know that his colorful poem would provide a springboard for some of the most dramatic musical works ever written (including the great "Dies Irae" of the Verdi Requiem!
Dies irae, dies illa Day of wrath, day that will
Solvet saeclum in favilla Dissolve the world into burning coals,
Teste David cum sibylla As David prophesied with the Sibyl (Oracle)
Quantus tremor est futures, How great trembling there will be,
Quando Xidex est venturis When the judge comes.
Join the over 4,300 subscribers to Randall's channel, and see/hear the other 108 videos he has created. Several new works have just been recorded, including his new extended (six-movement) work, IN PARADISUM - released in the spring. (Go to zrstroope.com to listen and see a score.)
***** "DAY OF WRATH" - a ferocious storm of artistic fury meant to describe raw terror of the apocalypse. The piano delivers crashing blows and a relentless driving pulse. This is a choral showpiece!
This recording - TBB & Piano; performed by WESTLAKE BOYS' HIGH SCHOOL, New Zealand; David Squire, director; Sheryl Clarke, collaborative pianist; Alliance Music #0606 Commissioned by Dr. Gary Schwartzkoff and the Singing Statesmen.
"Dies Irae" is a Latin poem on the subject of the Last Judgment. Attributed to a Franciscan monk named Tomas de Celante (1190-c. 1255), the complete poem contains 18 rhymed stanzas. An unknown author added the "Pie Jesu" couplet and the "Amen." Little did this Franciscan know that his colorful poem would provide a springboard for some of the most dramatic musical works ever written (including the great "Dies Irae" of the Verdi Requiem!
Dies irae, dies illa Day of wrath, day that will
Solvet saeclum in favilla Dissolve the world into burning coals,
Teste David cum sibylla As David prophesied with the Sibyl (Oracle)
Quantus tremor est futures, How great trembling there will be,
Quando Xidex est venturis When the judge comes.
Join the over 4,300 subscribers to Randall's channel, and see/hear the other 108 videos he has created. Several new works have just been recorded, including his new extended (six-movement) work, IN PARADISUM - released in the spring. (Go to zrstroope.com to listen and see a score.)
![HODIE! [revised 14:00] Composed/Conducted by Z. RANDALL STROOPE](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_F_IUDtEuOE/mqdefault.jpg "HODIE! [revised 14:00] Composed/Conducted by Z. RANDALL STROOPE
***** Explosion of color and exciting sonorities - this work contains fanfare, bold sonorities, reflection, inclusion of a chorale by Philipp Nicolai, and an ending of absolute sonic fireworks. It is literally one of the most enjoyable works that I have ever composed. Even though the brass is a full contingent (8 players), I was quite careful to maintain vocal balance. (The recording was made with 28 voices, 8 brass, timp, perc (1), organ, and a childrens choir of about 12). The treble choir can be done by trebles in the SATB choir, or very effectively by children. This is a centerpiece of any program, and the brass can be utilized on a variety of other literature on the program!
HODIE! (revised) was built on an early version written in the 1990s, with a brand new first movement and the third largely new material and much more colorful!
Movement 1: Ring out, you crystal spheres, Bless at once our human ears... (1629), John Milton; (also trad. Latin)
Movement 2: Hodie Christus natus est (trad. Latin)
Movement 3: Alleluia, Hodie exultant justi, dicentes! (trad. Latin)
Wake, awake for night is flying,
All the watchers on the heights are crying:
Awake, Jerusalem, arise! (Philipp Nicolai (trans. Winkworth)
BRASS VERSION
SATB (with opt. treble choir on movement 3)
(opt. treble choir [unison] in 3rd mvt; can be done by the SA in the mixed chorus)
4 trumpets in C
2 tenor trombones
b-trombone
tuba
timpani
percussion (1): tambourine, crash cym, suspended cym, snare, glock & xylophone
organ
ORCHESTRA VERSION
SATB chorus
2 flutes
2 oboes
2 Bb clarinets
2 bassoons
4 horns
3 Bb trumpets
3 trombones
1 tuba
timpani
percussion
harp
strings
* SATB/brass/timp/perc/org (3 mvts) 1400
* also SATB/orchestra
* RECORDED by THE NEW AMERICAN VOICES [ZRS conducting], DFW Brass & Peggy Graff,
organist; Theresa Pritchard & voices from Vista Ridge Middle School
* Mark Foster (Hal Leonard 00367069)
Join the over 4,300 subscribers to Randalls channel, and see/hear the other 108 videos he has created. Several new works have just been recorded, including his new extended (six-movement) work, IN PARADISUM - released this spring.. (Go to zrstroope.com to listen and see a score.)")
