Wednesday, July 04, 2007

O Magnum Mysterium

O Magnum Mysterium is a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas. A number of composers have reworked the chant into a contemporaneous setting; the settings by Victoria, Gabrieli, Palestrina, Poulenc and Lauridsen are particularly notable. A setting by Peter Maxwell Davies was created for Cirencester Grammar School. The Lauridsen version has also been transcribed for band by H. Robert Reynolds.

Latin text
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum
ut animalia viderent Dominum
natum, jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
V. Ave, Maria, gratia plena. Dominus tecum.
Literal translation
O great mystery,
and wonderful sacrament,
that animals should see the new-
born Lord, lying in their manger!
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear the
Lord Jesus Christ.
V. Hail, Mary, full of grace. The Lord is with you.
Click to know more about Morten Lauridsen

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