Music at our two Christmas concerts on Hayling and Havant on 11 and 12 December 2015 will include a new commission from us to James Dunlop, our Guest Composer, of “O Magnum Mysterium”. Our MD Peter asked him to write a motet using the words from “O Magnum Mysterium” because of the pedigree of this text for Christmas music: Byrd, Victoria, Poulenc and Lauridsen have set this text in works which are regarded as some of the finest choral pieces of all time.
O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum.
Alleluia.
English translation
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!
