It always takes me about a month to stop playing Christmas music. Because there simply is so much wonderful stuff out there. Usually by about this point in January I finally start putting everything away.
Here is a gift for those who may not be familiar with "O Magnum Mysterium" - written in 1994 for the Los Angeles Master Chorale. Turn down background noise, listen to this about three times in a row, and see if this doesn't go onto your list of favorite Christmas music.
There are many things I like about this song, not the least of which is the manner in which the composer slowly and gently builds the song as he goes along . . . it keeps getting better. And it is sung in Latin, which automatically gives it some extra punch.
And how could you beat the title ("o magnum mysterium" = "o great mystery") - how better to distill the Christmas story into three words? The words are taken from a traditional responsorial chant for Christmas from Matins (early morning service) (full translation etc. is available here.) So this piece, while a new setting, has centuries of tradition behind it. Numerous musical settings have been put together, including one by Thomas Tallis in the 16th century - also delightful (as is normally the case with his music).
I
don't know anything about the composer; there is some information in this article from Minnesota public radio. I didn't know until today that the setting here was specifically written for the LA Master Chorale. We first heard the recording at a Christmas dinner at Linda Prideaux's house several years ago; we borrowed the CD that night and burned a copy. But the original disappeared for about three years, only to be discovered when Kerry cleaned out her room before moving to the DC area. So KHG has good taste, if a bit of klepto tendency . . .Photos are from covers of a couple albums that feature the song.
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