Merry Christmas!
It's time to reveal my all-time favorite choral work for Christmastime (and I know you've been holding your breath for 10 days)!
Earlier in my list I included a setting of the sacred Latin text "O Magnum Mysterium," and my top choice uses the same text. Spanish composer Tomás Luis de Victoria composed this gem in 1572, and it is incredible.
The translation is:
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament, that animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in a manger! Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord. Alleluia!
The musical setting evokes this mystery and imminence of Christ all at once, and I don't think I'll ever get tired of hearing it performed by a great choir.
This performance is also by Chanticleer, and I think the purity and clarity of their voices is very well suited to this piece.
I hope your Advent season was wonderful, and I hope you enjoy the remaning 11 days of Christmas and keep listening to some of these great choral works!
This is my favorite recording of this piece, too, in fact, I listened to it just yesterday. Thank you for the Choral Christmas gems. Merry Christmas to you and your family!
Posted by: Wendy | 2011.12.26 at 08:15
Lovely, lovely stuff. Thanks for the links, and the exposure to some new (to me), wonderful pieces.
Posted by: Sean McMains | 2011.12.27 at 05:32