What are the "lyrics" for John Barry's score for "The Lion in Winter?"

September 18, 2006 5:57 PM

Help me find the "lyrics" to the chanting/choral parts of John Barry's score for the film "The Lion In Winter."

Google hasn't been helpful, and there was nothing previously asked on AskMe, so can anyone help me find out what the chorus is chanting in the John Barry music score for the 1968 Katharine Hepburn/Peter O'Toole film "The Lion in Winter?"

Bonus points for an English translation and/or background information on this score.

posted by jroybal to media & arts (10 comments total)

No luck finding the lyrics themselves online, but this Amazon link notes that the orginal Latin lyrics to the main theme and 2 other songs from the score were included with the original album, and might be also be available with the CD reissue. If you don't want to buy it, maybe you can borrow a copy from your local library.
posted by paulsc at 6:27 PM on September 18, 2006

Ok, this is seriously insane. I literally composed this exact post last night, but after seeing the Amazon link notes I resolved to buy the cd for the lyrics. I had to click the post before I was sure I hadn't accidentally posted it.

Sorry, haven't found a better answer yet, but I will comment that this is by far the best movie ever made.
posted by Manjusri at 6:54 PM on September 18, 2006

If there are any latin scholars among us, it would be nice to have a translation of the opening line: "Regis regum rectissimi prope est dies domini, dies irae et vindictae". I'm guessing "King, Queen, Prince...?".

Also in French "Allons Gai Gai Gai".
posted by Manjusri at 7:08 PM on September 18, 2006

I believe they are A Hymn of Saint Columbia, by Britten.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:04 PM on September 18, 2006

Woah, scratch that. Sorry.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:08 PM on September 18, 2006

Let's try that again...

Regis regum rectissimi
prope est dies domini
dies irae et vindicate
tenebrarum et nebulae
diesque mirabilium
tronitorum fortium
dies quoque angustiae
maeoris ac tristitiae
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 8:14 PM on September 18, 2006

This page has the Lion in Winter Lyrics in Latin.

Here is a translation of the first couple of lines from an analysis of the Altus Prosator. This is either the same poem, or one which shares opening lines.

The holy, righteous King of Kings/the Day of the Lord near to us brings,
a day of punishment and wrath/and clouds and darkness on our path…

A complete (but perhaps suspect) translation of Leo_Hieme.
posted by Manjusri at 1:20 AM on September 19, 2006

Wow! Great responses from everyone--exactly what I was looking for. Thanks so much for all the help. This has been gnawing at me for a while, as I so very much love the film (especially--especially--Katharine Hepburn) and its score.
posted by jroybal at 10:12 AM on September 19, 2006

If can you don't already have a copy, I've heard they can be found floating around the interwebenfrei. Just saying.
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 4:11 PM on September 19, 2006

can
posted by Civil_Disobedient at 6:40 PM on September 19, 2006