Dies Irae

Last updated on Dec 2, 2023

The use of the “Dies irae” plainchant has a long history in film music and other assorted media.1 Its liturgical text comprises vivid imagery of burning ash, illustrating the final day of judgement, and its modal music fits comfortably within a tonal context, highlighting the lowered third and seventh scale degrees. It is no surprise then that quoting the “Dies irae” chant remains a popular option for composers of film music; in fact, using the “Dies irae” in your film score today usually ellicits the same response of recognition in listeners as does the stock sound effect known as the “Wilhelm Scream.” Prominent examples of this chant appear in nearly every decade of the history of film music, ranging from It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) to Frozen 2 (2019) and The Mandalorian (2020).

For more, see all of my supercuts:

.

See also a few other media appearances:

  1. the film on which I consulted and appeared as a talking head, Why This Creepy Melody Is In So Many Movies.
  1. the podcast Twenty Thousand Hertz
  1. and the “National Public Radio” program Here and Now.

My List: Film (year), composer {Time Stamp} Type

  1. Metropolis (1927), score by Gottfried Huppertz {00:32:34} Type 1
  2. Sunrise: A Song of Two Humans (1927), score by Hugo Riesenfeld {1:19:20} Type 1
  3. Day of Wrath (1943), score by Poul Schierbeck {0:00:00} Type 1
  4. Know Your Enemy: Japan (1945), score by Dmitri Tiomkin {0:24:57} Type 1
  5. It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), score by Dmitri Tiomkin Type 1-3
  6. Angel on My Shoulder (1946), score by Dmitri Tiomkin {0:13:00} Type 1
  7. Young Bess (1953), score by Miklós Rózsa {0:27:48} Type 1
  8. I Confess (1953), score by Dmitri Tiomkin {0:01:55} Type 1
  9. The Sheep Has Five Legs (1954), score by Georges Van Parys Type 2
  10. Garden of Evil (1954), score by Bernard Herrmann {0:28:00} Type 1
  11. On the Waterfront (1954), score by Leonard Bernstein {1:33:20} Type 2
  12. Between Heaven and Hell (1956), score by Hugo Friedhofer {0:00:30} Type 1
  13. Sleeping Beauty (1957), score by Jack Lawrence & Sammy Fain {0:30:00}
  14. The Seventh Seal (1957), score by Erik Nodren {00:08:00} Type 2
  15. The Screaming Skull (1958), score by Ernst Gold {0:02:02} Type 1
  16. The Return of Dracula (1958), score by Gerald Fried {0:00:14} Type 1
  17. Compulsion (1959), score by Lionel Newman {1:03:20} Type 1
  18. Some Like It Hot (1959), score by Adolph Deutsch {1:58:01} Type 2
  19. Fall of the House of Usher (1960), score by Les Baxter {1:08:11} Type 1
  20. The Unforgiven (1960), score by Dmitri Tiomkin {1:16:42} Type 2
  21. Psycho (1960), score by Bernard Herrmann {0:11:50} Type 3
  22. El Cid (1961), score by Miklós Rózsa {1:34:23} Type 1
  23. The Great Escape (1963), score by Elmer Bernstein {02:11:15} Type 2
  24. Jason and the Argonauts (1963), score by Bernard Herrmann {1:37:00} Type 1
  25. The Jar (1964), score by Bernard Herrmann {0:09:59} Type 1
  26. Becket (1964), score by Laurence Rosenthal {0:03:40} Type 1
  27. I Malamando (1964), score by Ennio Morricone {1:15:50} Type 1
  28. Fists in the Pocket (1965), score by Ennio Morricone {0:00:01} Type 2
  29. Nightmare Castle (1965), score by Ennio Morricone {0:25:30} Type 1
  30. The Bible: In the Beginning (1966), score by Toshiro Mayuzumi {0:27:50} Type 1
  31. War and Peace (1966), score by Vyacheslav Ovchinnikov {1:44:39} Type 1
  32. Escalation (1968), score by Ennio Morricone {0:00:00} Type 1
  33. Dracula has Risen from the Grave (1968), score by James Bernard {0:13:25} Type 1B
  34. The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh (1971), score by Nora Orlandi {0:28:46} Type 1B
  35. Lust for a Vampire (1971), score by Harry Robinson {0:50:15} Type 1
  36. A Clockwork Orange (1971), score by Wendy Carlos {00:01:00} Type 1
  37. Mephisto Waltz (1971), score by Jerry Goldsmith {00:00:31} Type 1
  38. The Devils (1971), score by Peter Maxwell Davies {0:06:21} Type 1
  39. Vampire Circus (1972), score by David Whitaker {0:49:12} Type 1
  40. The Vault of Horror (1973), score by Douglas Gamley {0:00:06} Type 1
  41. The Devil is a Woman (1974), score by Ennio Morricone {0:00:54} Type 1
  42. Le Trio Infernal (1974), score by Ennio Morricone {1:06:20} Type 1B
  43. From Beyond the Grave (1974), score by Douglas Gamley {00:00:38} Type 1
  44. The Omen (1976), score by Jerry Goldsmith Type 1
  45. Obsession (1976), score by Bernard Herrmann {0:52:06} Type 1
  46. The Car (1977), score by Leonard Rosenman {00:00:17} Type 1
  47. A New Hope (1977), score by John Williams {00:40:15} Type 1
  48. Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977), score by John Williams {00:44:12} Type 1
  49. Cruise Into Terror (1978), score by Gerald Fried {0:01:00} Type 1
  50. The Medusa Touch (1978), score by Michael J. Lewis {1:41:06} Type 2
  51. Superman (1978), score by John Williams {0:12:36} Type 3
  52. Alien (1979), score by Jerry Goldsmith {01:53:30} Type 2
  53. Moonraker (1979), score by John Barry {0:32:30} Type 3
  54. The Killer Nun (1979), score by Alessandro Alessandroni {0:00:01} Type 1
  55. The Shining (1980), score by Wendy Carlos {00:00:00} Type 1
  56. Heavy Metal (1981), score by Elmer Bernstein {1:10:48} Type 2
  57. Conan the Barbarian (1982), score by Basil Poledouris {01:51:13} Type 1
  58. Superstition (1982), score by David Gibney {0:04:05} Type 1
  59. Poltergeist (1982), score by Jerry Goldsmith {01:44:01} Type 2
  60. Top Secret! (1984), score by Maurice Jarre {0:32:17} Type 1
  61. Mishima: A Life in Four Chapters (1985), score by Philip Glass Type 3
  62. Legend (1985), score by Tangerine Dream {0:21:14} Type 2
  63. Friday the 13th: A New Beginning (1985), score by Henry Manfredini {00:01:59} Type 2
  64. Back to the Future (1985), score by Alan Silvestri {1:07:25} Type 2
  65. Friday the 13th: Part VI, Jason Lives (1986), score by Henry Manfredini {00:04:15) Type 2
  66. Big Trouble in Little China (1986), score by John Carpenter/Alan Howarth {00:11:11} Type 1
  67. The Mission (1986), score by Ennio Morricone {00:32:56} Type 1
  68. Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), score by Ira Newborn {00:00:08} Type 2
  69. Friday the 13th: Part VII, The New Blood (1988), score by Henry Manfredini {00:15:03} Type 1-2
  70. Predator (1987), score by Alan Silvestri {1:15:00} Type 2b
  71. Empire of the Sun (1987), score by John Williams {0:30:00} Type 3
  72. The Accidental Tourist (1988), score by John Williams {1:54:33} Type 2
  73. Willow (1988), score by James Horner {1:24:20} Type 2
  74. Murder She Wrote S5E13 (1989), score by David Bell {0:13:00}, Type 1
  75. Quantam Leap S2E11 (1989), score by Mike Post {0:42:01], Type 2
  76. Dead Poets Society (1989), score by Maurice Jarre {0:35:00} Type 3
  77. Home Alone (1990), score by John Williams {00:06:58} Type 1
  78. Gremlins 2 (1990), score by Jerry Goldsmith {01:34:48} Type 2
  79. The Witches (1990), score by Stanley Myers {0:28:00} Type 1
  80. Maniac Cop 2 (1990), score by Jay Chattaway {1:17:51} Type 2
  81. Presumed Innocent (1990), score by John Williams {0:45:19} Type 2
  82. Beauty and the Beast (1991), score by Alan Mencken Type 2b
  83. Sleeping with the Enemy (1991), score by Jerry Goldsmith {1:25:20} Type 1
  84. Batman Returns (1992), score by Danny Elfman {00:12:15} Type 1
  85. Jurassic Park (1993), score by John Williams {01:18:30} Type 1
  86. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), score by Danny Elfman Type 1
  87. Groundhog Day (1993), score by George Fenton Type 2
  88. Demolition Man (1993), score by Eliot Goldenthal {00:00:27} Type 2
  89. Batman: Mask of the Phantasm (1993), score by Shirley Walker {0:02:00} Type 2
  90. Needful Things (1993), score by Patrick Doyle {1:40:20} Type 1
  91. The Lion King (1994), score by Hans Zimmer Type 1
  92. Tales from the Dark Side (1994), score by Bill Frisell {0:00:01} Type 3b
  93. Highlander III: The Sorcerer (1994), score by J. Peter Robinson {0:32:10} Type 2
  94. Crimson Tide (1995), score by Hans Zimmer {01:30:00}, Type 1
  95. Nixon (1995), score by John Williams {0:05:39} Type 2
  96. The Quick and the Dead (1995), score by Alan Silvestri {1:03:14} Type 2
  97. Independence Day (1996), score by David Arnold {1:06:42} Type 2
  98. The Rock (1996), score by Smith/Zimmer {0:20:26}, Type 1
  99. The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), score by Alan Mencken {0:03:38} Type 1
  100. Mars Attacks (1996), score by Danny Elfman {00:02:41} Type 2
  101. A Time to Kill (1996), score by Elliot Goldenthal {0:49:20} Type 1
  102. Sleepers (1996), score by John Williams {2:22:00} Type 3
  103. Faceoff (1997), score by John Powell {0:07:00}, Type 2b
  104. Scream 2 (1997), score by Marco Beltrami {0:40:07} Type 2
  105. Buffy the Vampire Slayer S1E2 (1997), score by Walter Murphy {opening titles} Type 1
  106. I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997), score by John Debney {0:25:25} Type 3
  107. Amistad (1997), score by John Williams {0:17:01} Type 2
  108. Deep Space 9 S5E19 (1997), score by Jay Chattaway {0:25:25} Type 3
  109. Mulan (1998), score by Jerry Goldsmith {0:55:54} Type 2
  110. Urban Legend (1998), score by Christopher Young {01:18:37} Type 3
  111. Armageddon (1998), score by Trevor Rabin {0:24:57} Type 2
  112. Star Trek: Deep Space 9 S7E10 (1998), score by Jay Chattaway {0:09:55} Type 3
  113. Shakespeare in Love (1998), score by Stephen Warbeck {0:00:57} Type 3
  114. The Thirteenth Floor (1999), score by Harald Kloser {1:14:08} Type 2
  115. The Bone Collector (1999), score by Craig Armstrong {01:48:59} Type 2
  116. The Messenger-The Joan of Arc Story (1999), score by Èric Serra {2:31:00} Type 3
  117. The World is Not Enough (1999), score by David Arnold {1:53:51} Type 2
  118. The Bone Collector (1999), score by Craig Armstrong {01:48:59} Type 2
  119. The Sixth Sense (1999), score by James Newton Howard {0:15:40} Type 2
  120. End of Days (1999), score by John Debney {00:00:01} Type 1
  121. The Road to El Dorado (2000), score by Hans Zimmer & John Powell {0:08:32} Type 1
  122. Gladiator (2000), score by Hans Zimmer & Lisa Gerrard {2:29:00} Type 1
  123. Shrek (2001), score by Harry Gregson-Williams/John Powell {00:41:30} Type 2
  124. Harry Potter & The Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), score by John Williams {2:08:27} Type 3
  125. Artificial Intelligence (2001), score by John Williams {1:55:50} Type 3
  126. South Park S5E6 (2001), score by Scott Nickoley {0:19:38} Type 3
  127. Attack of the Clones (2002), score by John Williams {01:24:33} Type 1
  128. Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets (2002), score by John Williams {01:49:15} Type 1
  129. The Ring (2002), score by Hans Zimmer {00:21:45} Type 1
  130. Signs (2002), score by James Newton Howard {1:06:51} Type 3
  131. Irreversible (2002), score by Thomas Bangalter {0:01:00} Type 1
  132. Who Wants to be a Millionaire (2002), score by Keith & Michael Strachan {0:13:13} Type 3
  133. Gangs of New York (2002), score by Elmer Bernstein (rejected) Type 1
  134. The Texas Chainsaw Massacre (2003), score by Steve Jablonsky {1:10:53} Type 3
  135. The Matrix Reloaded (2003), score by Don Davis {01:12:12} Type 2
  136. Looney Tunes: Back in Action (2003), score by Jerry Goldsmith {1:05:56} Type 1
  137. The Matrix Revolutions (2003), score by Don Davis {1:57:20} Type 2
  138. Kill Bill Vol. 2 (2004), sample of “The Strange Vice of Mrs. Wardh” {0:23:20} Type 1B
  139. Lost S1E22 (2004), score by Michael Giacchino {00:30:06} Type 2
  140. Team America: World Police (2004), score by Harry Gregson-Williams {1:06:00} Type 2
  141. E.R. S10E18 (2004), score by Martin Davich {0:20:20} Type 3
  142. Timesplitters–Future Perfect (2005), score by Graeme Norgate {main titles} Type 2
  143. War of the Worlds (2005), score by John Williams {00:49:49} Type 2
  144. Clerks 2 (2006), score by James L. Venable {0:41:35} Type 1
  145. Death Note S1E19 (2006), score by Yoshihisa Hirano {00:18:00} Type 2
  146. Pirates of the Caribbean 3: At World’s End (2007), score by Hans Zimmer {02:34:00} Type 3
  147. Perfume: The Story of a Murderer (2006), score by Reinhold Heil {0:14:23} Type 3
  148. The Illusionist (2006), score by Philip Glass {0:24:17} Type 3
  149. The Bucket List (2007), score by Marc Shaiman {0:06:23} Type 2B
  150. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007), score by Stephen Sondheim {1:13:39} Type 3
  151. Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), score by John Williams {00:04:18} Type 1
  152. Bones S3E13 (2008), score by Peter Himmelman {0:24:38} Type 1
  153. Bolt (2008), score by John Powell {1:22:38} Type 3
  154. Angels and Demons (2009), score by Hans Zimmer {01:57:31} Type 2
  155. Terminator Salvation (2009), score by Danny Elfman {0:59:42} Type 3
  156. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen (2009), score by Steve Jablonsky {1:43:52} Type 3B
  157. Drag Me to Hell (2009), score by Christopher Young {1:29:33} Type 3
  158. Fantastic Mr. Fox (2009), score by Alexandre Desplat {0:58:29} Type 3
  159. Don’t Be Afraid of the Dark (2010), score by Marco Beltrami {0:31:17} Type 2
  160. LOST S6E1 (2010), score by Michael Giacchino {0:22:50} Type 2
  161. Predators (2010), score by John Debney {1:17:16} Type 3
  162. Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol (2011), score by Michael Giacchino {00:29:59} Type 1
  163. Pirates of the Caribbean 4: On Stranger Tides (2011), score by Hans Zimmer {01:55:00} Type 1
  164. Thor (2011), score by Patrick Doyle {00:57:31} Type 1
  165. Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, part 2 (2011), score by Alexandre Desplat {0:55:00} Type 3
  166. Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011), score by Zimmer/Powell {1:02:39} Type 3
  167. Wreck It Ralph (2012), score by Henry Jackman {00:25:57} Type 1
  168. The Bourne Legacy (2012), score by James Newton Howard {0:01:00} Type 3
  169. Psych S6E11 (2012), score by Adam Cohen {0:33:19} Type 1
  170. The Best Offer (2013), score by Ennio Morricone {0:13:18, 2:01:07, end titles} Type 2, Type 3
  171. Iron Man 3 (2013), score by Brian Tyler {00:24:41} Type 1
  172. The Newsroom S2E7 (2013), score by Johnny Klimek {0:48:12} Type 3
  173. Game of Thrones S5E1 (2014), score by Ramin Djiwadin {00:22:15} Type 1
  174. Crimson Peak (2015), score by Fernando Velazquez {00:00:00} Type 1
  175. Glitch S1E3 (2015), score by Cornel Wilczeck {00:50:00} Type 2
  176. Terminator Genisys (2015), score by Lorne Balfe {1:27:03} Type 3b
  177. 10 Cloverfield Lane (2016), score by Bear McCreary {00:00:00} Type 1
  178. Colossal (2016), score by Bear McCreary {01:38:11} Type 1
  179. Rogue One (2016), score by Michael Giacchino {01:12:48} Type 1
  180. Game of Thrones S6E5 (2016), score by Ramin Djawadi {0:13:00} Type 1
  181. Star Trek Beyond (2016), score by Michael Giacchino {1:28:08} Type 3
  182. Dead by Daylight (2016), score by Michael April {main menu} Type 2
  183. Dr. Strange (2016), score by Michael Giacchino {1:35:36} Type 2
  184. Doctor Who: The Return of Mysterio S10 (2016), score by Murray Gold {0:36:19} Type 2
  185. Pirates of the Caribbean 5: Dead Men Tell No Tales (2017), score by Geoff Zanelli {00:10:30} Type 1
  186. The Good Place S1E11 (2017), score by David Schwartz {00:23:42} Type 1
  187. Justice League (2017), score by Danny Elfman {0:25:25} Type 3
  188. Survivor S35E9 (2017), score by David Vanacore {0:20:50} Type 3
  189. The Scariest Story Ever Told: A Mickey Mouse Spooktacular (2017), score by Christopher Willis {0:07:14} Type 2
  190. Final Space S1E1 (2018), score by Shelby Merry {opening titles} Type 3
  191. The Spy Gone North (2018), score by Yeong-wook Jo {01:04:40} Type 1
  192. Avengers: Infinity War (2018), score by Alan Silvestri {00:33:52} Type 1
  193. Ready Player One (2018), score by Alan Silvestri {00:57:51} Type 2
  194. Star Wars Rebels S4E11 (2018), score by Kevin Kiner {00:02:26} Type 2
  195. Star Wars Rebels S4E13 (2018), score by Kevin Kiner {00:14:28} Type 2
  196. Solo: A Star Wars Story (2018), score by John Powell {0:48:39} Type 2
  197. Stranger Things S3E8 (2019), score by Michael Stein & Kyle Dixon {0:41:15} Type 2
  198. Fruits Basket S2E21 (2019), score by Taku Kishimoto {0:13:17} Type 2
  199. Eli (2019), score by Bear McCreary {001:19:52} Type 1
  200. 1BR (2019), score by Ronen Landa {00:27:00} Type 3
  201. Doctor Sleep (2019), score by The Newton Brothers {02:18:33} Type 2
  202. Frozen 2 (2019), score by Christophe Beck {00:16:40} Type 2
  203. Succession S2E10 (2019), score by Nicholas Britell {01:09:00} Type 2
  204. Toy Story (2019), score by Randy Newman {01:15:20} Type 2
  205. Christmas Prince: The Royal Baby (2019), score by Zack Ryan {0:59:38} Type 3
  206. Fargo S4E7 (2020), score by Jeff Russo {0:25:31} Type 3
  207. Onward (2020), score by Jeff & Mychael Danna {01:06:00} Type 2
  208. Westworld S3E5 (2020), score by Ramin Djawadi {00:47:14} Type 2
  209. Cursed S1E4 (2020), score by Jeff Russo {00:06:47} Type 2
  210. Fantasy Island (2020), score by Bear McCreary {01:18:13} Type 3
  211. The Flight Attendant S1E8 (2020), score by Blake Neely {0:39:12} Type 3
  212. The Mandalorian Chapter 16 (2020), score by Ludwig Göransson {0:34:20} Type 3
  213. The Empty Man (2020), score by Christopher Young & Lustmord {1:24:28} Type 3
  214. Deamon Slayer: Mugen Train (2020), score by Kajiura/Shiina {1:30:00} Type 2
  215. Loki S1E5 (2021), score by Natalie Holt {0:25:09} Type 2
  216. Fear Street: 1994 (2021), score by Marco Beltrami & M. Trumpp {0:53:47} Type 2
  217. Fear Street: 1666 (2021), score by Marco Beltrami & M. Trumpp {0:53:47} Type 2
  218. Reminiscence (2021), score by Ramin Djawadi {0:03:28} Type 2
  219. Star Wars: Visions S1E4 (2021), score by Kevin Penkin {0:14:50} Type 2
  220. White Lotus S1E1 (2021), score by Cristobal Tapia de Veer {main titles} Type 3
  221. Last Night in Soho (2021), Dies Irae is Diegetic {1:30:00} Type 2
  222. No Time To Die (2021), Dies Irae is Diegetic {0:20:21} Type 2
  223. Gunpowder Milkshake (2021), score by Frank Ilfman {1:31:46} Type 3
  224. Ragnorak S2E3 (2021), score by Halfdan E {0:36:45} Type 1b
  225. Squid Game S1E3 (2021), socre by Jaeil Jung {0:01:00} Type 3
  226. Wheel of Time S1E2 (2021), score by Lorne Balfe {0:03:8) Type 2
  227. Falcon and the Winter Soldier (2021), score by Henry Jackman {0:02:08} Type 2/3
  228. Shang-Chi & the Legend of the 10 Rings (2021), score by Joel P West {0:06:40} Type 3
  229. Arcane S1E7 (2021), Dies Irae is Diegetic {0:31:30} Type 2
  230. Benedetta (2021), score by Anne Dudley {1:29:00} Type 1
  231. Nightmare Alley (2021), score by Nathan Johnson {1:40:40} Type 3
  232. Ghosts S1E4 (2021), score by Jeff Cardoni {0:07:20} Type 2
  233. Cheer S2E5 (2022), score by Joseph Minadeo {0:10:18} Type 1
  234. Flight Attendant S2E2 (2022), score by Blake Neely {0:31:18} Type 3
  235. Inventing Anna (2022), score by Bowers/Charles {0:19:14} Type 3
  236. Moon Knight S1E3 (2022), score by Hesham Nazih {0:03:54} Type 2
  237. Obi-Wan Kenobi S1E6 (2022), score by Natalie Holt {0:19:15} Type 2
  238. Stranger Things S4E5 (2022), score by Dixon/Stein {0:07:45} Type 1
  239. The Northman (2022), score by Carolan/Gainsborough {0:02:43} Type 3
  240. Disenchanged (2022), score by Alan Menken {1:23:57} Type 2
  241. Disenchanted (2022), score by Alan Menken {1:23:57} Type 2
  242. Halloween Ends (2022), score by John & Cody Carpenter, Daniel Davies {1:37:00} Type 2
  243. Andor S1E10 (2022), score by Nicholas Britell {0:31:00} Type 2
  244. Only Murders in the Building (2022), score by Siddhartha Khosla {0:21:14} Type 3
  245. Wednesday S1E1 (2022), score by Danny Elfman {0:08:00} Type 2

  1. See Linda Schubert, “Plainchant in Motion Pictures: The ‘Dies Irae’ in Film Scores, ” Florilegium 15 (1998): 207-229; and Karen Cook, “Beyond the Grave: The “Dies Irae” in Video Game Music". ↩︎

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Alex Ludwig
Associate Professor; Interim Assistant Chair of the Liberal Arts

My research interests include Joseph Haydn’s String Quartets, The Beatles and Film Music.