M O R T E N L A U R I D S E N
O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM
for Violin and Orchestra
O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentum in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
O great mystery, and wondrous sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in their manger! Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Translation © by earthsongs Reprinted by permission.
For centuries, composers have been inspired by the beautiful O Magnum Mysterium text depicting the birth of the new-born King amongst the lowly animals and shepherds. This affirmation of God’s grace to the meek and the adoration of the Blessed Virgin are celebrated in my setting through a quiet song of profound inner joy.
The original SATB choral version of O Magnum Mysterium was commissioned by Marshall Rutter for his wife, Terry Knowles, and premiered by the Los Angeles Master Chorale in 1994 under the baton of Paul Salamunovich. It has been performed thousands of time worldwide and recorded on well over a hundred compact discs. I have also composed versions for men’s chorus, solo voice with piano/organ and brass ensemble (commissioned by the Bay Brass). A very fine arrangement for wind symphony has also been done by H. Robert Reynolds.
Among the finest recordings of the original choral version is by the Dale Warland Singers on the Gothic CD “Lux Aurumque” and I strongly urge the conductor of the violin/orchestral version to listen carefully to this performance as it captures the many facets of the score brilliantly, including the correct tempo rubato which shapes the overall work. The duration of the performance of this orchestral version should be somewhere around 6’45” —anything longer will adversely affect the melodic arc and interior tempo flexibility of the phrase structures which are rooted in Gregorian chant.
The fabulous violinist Anne Akiko Meyers commissioned this version for solo violin and orchestra recorded on her album, “Fantasia.” The score is also available for solo violin and chamber orchestra. I extend to Anne my deep appreciation for her magnificent and inspiring artistry that led to this orchestral version of O Magnum Mysterium.
—Morten Lauridsen
Morten Lauridsen served as Composer-in-Residence of the Los Angeles Master Chorale from 1995-2001 and is currently Distinguished Professor of Composition at the USC Thornton School of Music. His works are performed throughout the world and have been recorded on over two hundred CDs, including several that received Grammy nominations.
In 2006 Lauridsen was named an “American Choral Master” by the National Endowment for the Arts, and in 2007 he was awarded the National Medal of Arts, the highest artistic award in the United States, by the President in a White House ceremony “for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power, and spiritual depth that have thrilled audiences worldwide.” He is the subject of the award-winning film by Michael Stillwater: Shining Night – A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen, released in 2012.
For more about Morten Lauridsen: www.peermusicClassical.com and www.mortenlauridsen.net
Instrumentation
2 Flutes
Oboe English Horn
2 Clarinets in A
2 Bassoons
4 Horns in F
2 Trumpets in C
2 Trombones
Tuba
Timpani
Percussion (1 player) Suspended Cymbal
Solo Violin
Strings
to Anne Akiko Meyers