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Author	Topic: Latin Lyrics in Film Scores... what do they mean?

Jeron Oscar® Winner	I was listening to Patrick Doyle's "Needful Things" last night, and realized how similar the lyrics (at parts) sounded like Goldsmith's "The Omen" and even perhaps the chorals in "First Knight." Does anyone know what the lyrics are and how they relate to one another? I think it's interesting. ~Jeron
posted 12-07-1999 06:44 AM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	Most of them are Christian in nature (or Catholic if you choose to make a distinction). I haven't heard Needful Things but The Omen has a lot of traditional, Catholic (Latin) dialog used during services. I can make a translation for you if you'd like me to. Scott
posted 12-07-1999 07:58 AM PT (US)

Audacity Oscar® Winner	Scott, How many @#$%ing languages do you speak, threepio?
posted 12-07-1999 08:25 AM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	Well, Audacity: I speak only English and German fluently. I can get by with Gujarati,and Greek. I need help with Hebrew and Armaic a lot. Because of my Catholic background I know a little Latin. So, don't get the wrong impression I couldn't hold a conversation in Greek,Hebrew or Amaic (at least not yet). I tell ya, I would love to give up all these languages just to become a good speller in English. The famed tale that you become a good speller if you read a lot is a lie. I read way too much and still can't spell for beans. Scotty The people really deserving an award are the likes of SFT and others whose English is so good it's hard to believe they live abroad. [This message has been edited by Scott (edited 12-07-99).]
posted 12-07-1999 11:52 AM PT (US)

SFT Oscar® Winner	Why, thank you Scott! That´s really nice of you to say. Bet you don´t know a single word of danish, do you? Ah, who can blame you? It´s not that big of a language anyway, if you know what I mean. SFT NP: King Kong, Max Steiner ***/***
posted 12-07-1999 12:26 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	That's an interesting point, Scott. I don't read enough! Go figure. ~J
posted 12-07-1999 01:11 PM PT (US)

Al Oscar® Winner	First off, let me say that I think Needful Things is an incredible score. Second, I don't know a bit of what the lyrics mean. I always think I hear 'Needful Things' being chanted briefly a few times. It would make sense anyways. The translation of the lyrics in Goldsmith's AVE SATANI and ARTHUR'S FAREWELL are in the Cinema Choral Classics' linear notes. If you were wondering about that and don't have those already, I can post them. Unless Scott wants to translate The Omen's. In that case, I'd just post First Knight's.
posted 12-07-1999 02:05 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	Al, that would be great if you could post the translations. It doesn't make sense for Scott to translate them if they are already printed - unless he wants to do so for the exercise. I am still mainly interested in the correlation between the lyrics in "Needful Things" and "The Omen," though. They use a few similar words, and I figured it would be interesting to see how they relate (if at all). Anyways... thanks Al. I look forward to reading the translations! ~Jeron
posted 12-07-1999 03:13 PM PT (US)

James Oscar® Winner	Here's a task for anyone interested in translating Latin lyrics... what are the lyrics to Richard Band's The Pit and the Pendulum? Specifically, tracks 1, 11, and 12. I'll pay a few bucks to anyone who finds out. Seriously. James
posted 12-07-1999 08:46 PM PT (US)

Al Oscar® Winner	Unfortunately, the translation to the lyrics are not as elaborate as I remembered. They may give translation for only part of the songs. Then again, Goldsmith may have used these lyrics in different ways throughout the songs. NEVER SURRENDER from First Knight -Hoc Regnum meum est The kingdom is mine! -Adorate me! Pay me homage! -Dominus deus noster Lord our God -Deus solus est the only true God -Deus in caelo God in heaven. AVE SATANI from The Omen -Sanguis.. bibimus.. corpus.. edimus Blood we drink. Flesh we eat. -Tolle Corpus Satani Raise the body of Satan -Ave versus cristus Hail the anti-christ! -Ave satani Hail Satan! Hope this helps. Knowing the translations seem to make the pieces even more powerful, i believe.
posted 12-07-1999 10:22 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	If not more scary...
posted 12-07-1999 11:12 PM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	Thanks Al, you saved me a lot of time. I do think there are more lyrics to The Omen. When I get home tonight I check. (I know for a fact Jesu Christi [Jesus Christ] is in one of them). Scott James: I don't have that score
posted 12-08-1999 07:53 AM PT (US)

TimT Oscar® Winner	Well I'm still interested in a translation from Needful Things. The Arrival track.
posted 10-04-2001 10:32 PM PT (US)

Jeron Oscar® Winner	Geesh, these old threads make me look like a goofy ass/retard! For the love of God, quit resurrecting them, Tim! [Message edited by Jeron on 10-05-2001]
posted 10-05-2001 12:51 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	The problem are the recordings: On most film score albums, it's pretty hard to understand the words. I can't agree with Scott's statement though that Needful Things and Omen shares catholic lyrics. Does it say "Corpus bibimus..." in the Bible?
posted 10-05-2001 06:34 AM PT (US)

dgoldwas Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Jeron: Geesh, these old threads make me look like a goofy ass/retard! For the love of God, quit resurrecting them, Tim! Ashamed of your past, Jeron? What do you have to be ashamed of? (I thought it's a valid question!) Speaking of which. Does anyone know an english translation of the latin chorus used in CONAN THE BARBARIAN? Dan
posted 10-05-2001 07:06 AM PT (US)

Scott Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Marian Schedenig: The problem are the recordings: On most film score albums, it's pretty hard to understand the words. *I can't agree with Scott's statement though that Needful Things* and Omen shares catholic lyrics. Does it say "Corpus bibimus..." in the Bible?** My bad. Scott NP: Sneakers (these old threads are kinda sneekey aren't they?)
posted 10-05-2001 07:25 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by dgoldwas: Does anyone know an english translation of the latin chorus used in CONAN THE BARBARIAN? I think we had that one either here or at FSM...use the search feature! NP: Edvard Grieg: From Holberg's Time (Berlin Philharmonic, Herbert von Karajan)
posted 10-05-2001 08:21 AM PT (US)

dgoldwas Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Marian Schedenig: I think we had that one either here or at FSM...use the search feature! Nice try Marian, but I DID try the search feature here. (Searched for "conan latin lyrics".) Got two results, none of which had them. At the FSM board, a search with the same criteria resulted in one thread, but it was about the LORD OF THE RINGS trailer music. So.... unless you can actually point me to a thread (with URL, please!), I'd say the search engines failed to deliver on this one. Dan
posted 10-05-2001 08:40 AM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	I can't even remember which board it was on, unfortunately. But perhaps the word "latin" wasn't used in the thread?
posted 10-05-2001 08:56 AM PT (US)

shrubber Oscar® Winner	Re: the Conan lyrics, unless I'm very much mistaken the translation is included in the Varese liner notes, so check the Varese site or Basil's own site. If memory serves, it's roughly about the glorification of war, steel, fire and chopping people to tiny little bits
posted 10-05-2001 04:06 PM PT (US)

dgoldwas Oscar® Winner	Ahahaha... Shrubber, I RUN Basil's site. The only reason I'm asking is because people have been emailing me about it, and I figured I'd ask around before I start bothering Basil!! Dan
posted 10-05-2001 04:11 PM PT (US)

Soundtracker Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by dgoldwas: Does anyone know an english translation of the latin chorus used in CONAN THE BARBARIAN? Here are the Conan lyrics, taken from the 2CD Ltd. Edition bootleg: quote: Enses requirimus saevos nos, We seek savage swords, nos ferrei reges servi fati, We, iron kings, servants of fate, morta ex terra mortiferra tela bringing deadly weapons, sprung from the earth in hostes bello ad moventes. against the enemy in war. Equos frenamus furentes We control high-spirited horses, Capi ta superba quatientes shaking their proud heads mortem hostibus et luctem date Spirits of the dead, give death and bitter grief acrem di manes sternadis. to the enemy who must laid low. Ave Nevis, ave ferrum, Hail Nevism, hail iron Ave tela, ave cruor Hail weapons, hail terror, Ave pugna, ave moritur. Hail gore, hail those who are about to die! Skylon! Skylon! Please, don't ask what is Skylon. Nobody seems to know the meaning of it... ************** quote: Originally posted by Marian: The problem are the recordings: On most film score albums, it's pretty hard to understand the words. Marian, Usually, scores with latin lyrics are sung by choruses. I don't think the problem is the recordings. It's very hard to identify the lyrics due to the lot of voices on choruses. Additionaly, they sometimes apply english pronounce to latin words...
posted 10-05-2001 07:34 PM PT (US)

TimT Oscar® Winner	Why are they always in Latin? why that language?
posted 10-05-2001 08:59 PM PT (US)

Soundtracker Oscar® Winner	'cause we don't understand... But soon we will listen quenya lyrics!!!!!! I can't wait...
posted 10-05-2001 09:24 PM PT (US)

Lancelot Oscar® Winner	Well, if they sing it in Latin, it's part of the score....if they sing it in English, or some other Latin derivative or Non-European (like Japanese) language, it's a...<shudder>...song. Maybe the only other "acceptable" language in the underscore (without being considered an outright "song" would be...hmm...Swahili?) [Message edited by Lancelot on 10-05-2001]
posted 10-05-2001 09:38 PM PT (US)

TimT Oscar® Winner	Why Swahili? African's are always singing!
posted 10-05-2001 09:46 PM PT (US)

James Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Lancelot: Well, if they sing it in Latin, it's part of the score....if they sing it in English, or some other Latin derivative or Non-European (like Japanese) language, it's a...<shudder>...song. Maybe the only other "acceptable" language in the underscore (without being considered an outright "song" would be...hmm...Swahili?) [Message edited by Lancelot on 10-05-2001] I wouldn't necessarily agree with that. Poledouris uses some Russian in THE HUNT FOR RED OCTOBER, and we musn't forget the Sanskrit in THE PHANTOM MENACE. And I later found out that the lyrics in Band's THE PIT AND THE PENDULUM are actually a combination of Latin, Italian, and Spanish (which renders them even more indecipherable, I'm sure). Gibberish is also used quite a bit. Unless I'm mistaken, I don't think the choir in STARGATE is singing an actual language. And let's not forget BATMAN: MASK OF THE PHANTASM, in which Shirley Walker took the names of many of her assistants and team and such, and then had the choir sing the names backwards in the opening credits. Cliff Eidelman also used a little bit of Klingon in STAR TREK VI, but I suppose that's a special case, much like Howard Shore inserting "snooch nooch" into the final cue of DOGMA. James
posted 10-05-2001 10:04 PM PT (US)

Marian Schedenig Oscar® Winner	quote: Originally posted by Soundtracker: But soon we will listen quenya lyrics!!!!!! And Khuzdul! quote: Originally posted by Soundtracker: Usually, scores with latin lyrics are sung by choruses. I don't think the problem is the recordings. It's very hard to identify the lyrics due to the lot of voices on choruses. Additionaly, they sometimes apply english pronounce to latin words... True, but classical works are often recorded with more reverb, so the chorus isn't so drowned and you can understand the lyrics a bit better. Regarding the pronounciation... I have a recording of Bruckner's Te Deum where the tenor pronounces the Latin lyrics the Italian way, while the Soprano pronounces them the German way. There's a part at the beginning where they repeat each other's lines - sounds pretty weird. NP: Sticky Fingers (The Rolling Stones)
posted 10-06-2001 06:10 AM PT (US)

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