Analysis of Mozart's "Requiem: Introitus" -- from his Requiem in d minor

Hello everyone! Today I am going to be continuing my series of analyses on the Mozart requiem by tackling the Requiem: Introitus. I meant to post this yesterday, but I did not have time to complete the analysis with the old fashioned Christmas parade, so I decided to upload it today. Let's get into the analysis:

Analysis

Form

This piece seems to utilize an A B A form. I am not going to call this strictly ternary or rounded binary because I feel as though it is more or less through composed (As in the A section is different the second time through) and the form really does not seem to be super evident. I simply assigned these letters because there is a section in d minor followed by a section in Bb Major followed by a section in d minor (modulated to through g minor).

Counterpoint

This movement seems to make use of a lot of contrapuntal ideas. As a result the voices each sound unique and the work sounds more complex as a whole. I noticed several details which I will point out including a use of a sequence in measures 40, 41, and 42 (into 43). We will get into more contrapuntal ideas in Kyrie's analysis.

Harmonics

This piece was a complex analysis harmonically (As is all Mozart). This piece is very much like a work of Bach in that all of the parts are moving, making it hard to tell which notes are harmonically relevant. I did my best. I will point out the genius of Mozart in his backwards looking in terms counterpoint and his forward looking in terms of chromaticism. This requiem is of great innovative quality and likely paved the way for future composers who used similar ideas. Anyway, here is the text of this movement followed by my analysis:

Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine:
et lux perpetua luceat eis.
Te decet hymnus, Deus, in Sion,
et tibi reddetur votum in Ierusalem:
exaudi orationem meam,
ad te omnis caro veniet.
Requiem æternam dona eis, Domine:
et lux perpetua luceat eis.

Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.
A hymn, O God, becometh Thee in Sion;
and a vow shall be paid to Thee in Jerusalem:
hear my prayer;
all flesh shall come to Thee.
Eternal rest give unto them, O Lord,
and let perpetual light shine upon them.

Materials Used

Public Domain Performance by The Wiener Philharmonic (Found on IMSLP)
Public Domain Arrangement (Sheet Music) by Maurizio Machella (Found on cpdl.org)

Previous Analyses

• The Rustin High School Alma Mater by Samuel Barber (7/17/18)
• The Star Spangled Banner (Our Nation's National Anthem)(7/18/18)
• The Stars and Stripes Forever by John Philip Sousa (7/19/18)
• Eternal Father, Strong to Save (The Navy Hymn) (7/20/18)
• The Heavens are Telling by Franz Joseph Haydn (9/3/18)
• Lacrymosa by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (9/19/2018)
• Dies Irae by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (10/7/2018)
• Requiem: Introitus by Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart (12/1/2018)

Closing

Thanks for reading/watching this! Please remember that feedback is always appreciated. Please point out anything that you think might be wrong. Anyway, hopefully I will see you next time!

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