My next piece is also a setting of an important text at Christmas time. There are several settings of "O Magnum Mysterium," and more than one will appear in my top ten list. At #8, I chose contemporary composer Morten Lauridsen's setting. What is fascinating to me about contemporary composers is that every once in a while they give us insight into choices they made in composing, which can illuminate the piece and make it more meaningful. Here's an excerpt from an intervew Lauridsen did in the Wall Street Journal.
"The most challenging part of this piece for me was the second line of text having to do with the Virgin Mary. She above all was chosen to bear the Christ child and then she endured the horror and sorrow of his death on the cross. How can her significance and suffering be portrayed musically?
"After exploring several paths, I decided to depict this by a single note. On the word "Virgo," the altos sing a dissonant appoggiatura G-sharp. It's the only tone in the entire work that is foreign to the main key of D. That note stands out against a consonant backdrop as if a sonic light has suddenly been focused upon it, edifying its meaning. It is the most important note in the piece."
Lovely piece! Thanks for sharing it.
Man, I'd love to sit down in a den by a fire with a good drink, an MP3 player, a good set of speakers, and your company for an evening! :)
Posted by: Sean McMains | 2011.12.19 at 08:48
Any time youre in Delaware, my friend!
Posted by: duane | 2011.12.19 at 09:55