Listening Guide
The Work
Tempo: Allegro impetuoso; etwas gemässigter, immer sehr fliessend (somewhat more moderate, always very fleeting); etwas gehalten (somewhat held back)
Key: E-flat major (second theme in D-flat major; third theme in D minor, with excursions into E major and minor, D-flat and A-flat major, etc.)
Time signature: 4/4 (with intervening duple and triple meters in the Veni theme).
Form: modified and extended sonata form.
Veni, creator spiritus! Mentes tuorum visita. Imple superna gratia, quae tu creasti pectora.
Qui Paraclitus diceris. Veni, creator spiritus, etc. Infirma nostri corporis, Hostem repellas longius, digitus paternae dexterae. Per te sciamus da Patrem, Accende lumen sensibus, Veni, creator spiritus, etc. Da gaudiorum praemia, Gloria patri Domino, | Come, Creator Spirit! let They soul visit us. Fill with all Thy grace those whom Thou hast created.
Thou who is called the Comforter, Come, Creator, etc. Endow our infirm bodies Drive the enemy far away Through Thee may we know the Father, Inflame our senses with Thy light, Come, Creator spirit, etc. Give us heavenly joy, Glory to the Lord, the Father, |
* Words omitted by Mahler |