Morten Lauridsen - O Magnum Mysterium

[beerstudd76]

Ok, I'm moving to Latvia

[Donna1785]

Beautiful.... This makes my heart swell with the joy of the Lord! Great Job!!!! :D

[memiller55]

Lovely rendition by talented young people from one of the best singing countries in the world -- Latvia! And I say that as someone with Welsh heritage myself.

[mbmaccin555555]

I'd say a bit too fast, but it's still really good.

[kingofsng]

love this piece!

[asingusa]

Beautifull song, beatifull choir... Regards from Venezuela

[felix1360]

Very very good, considering the dry acoustics and close miking! I miss the deep bass d at the end, though.

[boltonwandererskings]

Dearest akaulanav, sorry i didn't like that recording for 2 reasons. Firstly I couldn't hear the bass section in the really low notes and this is the key which holds the whole piece together (the other voices though are excellent) and secondly, the audience are constantly snapping their cameras and to be honest that's wah mainly came through my speakers.

[mposterFV]

WOW WOW WOW -- You guys are awesome!!

[MrChilenz]

this is amazing....

[philjacksonify]

This is just so beautifully sung. Sends shivers down my spine, really does.

[johanponken]

Wonderful - both recording and choir! And I'd love to hear a studio recording of it!

Re speed: I sit with the sheet music in front of me, and it says ca. 5'45. On the other hand the longest I think is the splendid recording with Nordic Chamber Choir - more than a minute longer than that. Brussels Chamber Choir and Lumen Valo are both well over 6min. At a very fast 4'24 comes Femmes de Chanson (and all female too)! Miami Glee Club all men xlnt and on time.

[jenriv89]

I can't remember what the cadence for this piece is, but somehow it seems much too fast for a Lauridsen. Nitpicking aside, this choir has a wonderful sound. I'm especially proud of the first altos here, and the sopranos -- slight squeak near the end aside-- also sound lovely.

[kisterc]

Nice, clean sound!

[ericcarmenfan]

Quite lovely. I have a high school group of 16 working on this, and many of the more difficult aspects of this piece, this choir has succeeded at. Congratulations!

[looterish]

The thing I liked about this rendition is that it is the the only one I've ever heard that is truly and powerfully impassioned in the section that is usually simply sung louder, but these singers really bite into it! I also admire their sense of ensemble and general intonation. The Nordic Chamber choir's famous rendition of this piece reaches a level of sublimity that is amazing, but the raw passion in this version is something to admire too. At least I think so anyway.

[TheBrittanyBarrix]

This song makes me feel very sad. It makes me want to cry. I can't say I didn't get teary eyed while listening to this. Its such a beautiful song.

[elnegrosombra1]

It always happen to me too. But I guess they are tears of joy, peace and calmness. I thought I was the only one.

Peace

[drummerkid187]

Great diction, and who knew pretty girls could sing so well, and you say they need to look up but there sounds is still one and they share a core sound. But back to the pretty girls, its refreshing to see some talent NOT in frumpy form. Sorry just saying

[romino707]

At 4:30 the mens' voices just shine through wondrously...

[benbenwhy20]

hmm, very nice indeed, but at certain times, they seem to stare at ther scores too long =)

[oldschooldrumcorps]

boltonwandererskings -check out the Nordic Choir here on you tube....Their performance may change your mind!

[pantonality]

I agree. Prior to discovering the Nordic choir this was my favorite recording of this piece on youtube. Too bad the Nordic choir has no video to speak of to watch, at least we get to watch the choir on this one.

[stonkadoodle]

Nice choir, great piece but someone should shoot the conductor. A good conductor does not need to do such rediculous large gestures. It simply detracts from the choir.

[dermie12]

oh ok

I would love to see what the choir saw. The last time i sung it the conductor was mouthing at us vowels costanants and sing out

[XBlckMAGICKX]

There is too much dictation. The point of the song is to be blended, but at the same time with dynamics. Some of these singers look a little koo koo for coco puffs also.

[RQQQP]

This is one of the most beautiful Christmas responsorial chants - close your eyes and listen to these gorgeous voices - it is so moving it makes me weep with joy!

Alleluia, indeed...

Latin : O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio!  Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia.

[boltonwandererskings]

I am a bass choral singer whose choir has sung this once & is singing it again this Christmas so have experience of this piece. I have listened to > 10 different recordings & this is by far the best - it brought tears to my eyes (I'll ignore the future sarcastic comments). I have listened to it about 15 times. I can hear the bass. As for the visual effects, I was just listening so wasn't concerned. I am appalled at some of the comments - just enjoy the music & let it speak to your soul

[akaulanav]

@boltonwandererskings dude if you liked this one you gotta listen to the version uploaded by user: aevangelista. I think that one is pure magic. This one is good too.

[boltonwandererskings]

@akaulanav Dearest akaulanav, sorry i didn't like that recording for 2 reasons. Firstly I couldn't hear the bass section in the really low notes and this is the key which holds the whole piece together (the other voices though are excellent) and secondly, the audience are constantly snapping their cameras and to be honest that's wah mainly came through my speakers.

[akaulanav]

@boltonwandererskings that's cool. Yeah you gotta use your imagination a bit since the recording is not that good. Even so, you can still hear the overtones, that's why I love it so much.

[lennonisi]

My only issue with this is why are there several ladies holding their folders to their side? I don't care if you can do it by memory, you need a unified look.

[ViciousTeddyBear09]

i agree

[wiz9329]

beautiful blend, beautiful consonants, but there's a couple problems.

1. breathing. you have plenty of time, don't rush the breathing

2. tempo, partly due to the windmill-looking director

3. no bass. its hard enough to hit a d, or d flat, but at least keep the ratio 1:1

4. vowels. is it just me, or do the vowels sound really funny, especially the "e"s. its not mysteeeeeerium, its mysterium. its not a pure short e in ecclesiastical latin, but its definitely closer to that than an "aaaa" sound.

[MisterHowe]

@wiz9329 Agreed. The conductor is trying for expression, but his wild gestures are so nebulous that the choir doesn't seem to know how to interpret them, especially on entrances.

[wiz9329]

something's wrong with the tenors too towards the end of the piece ... i can't quite figure it out, but something's wrong.

[joanlitman]

I have never met an Eastern European conductor that was "trying for expression." The issue is the delivery of a musically cohesive and beautiful performance--- honoring the intentions and spirit of the composer.

Listen more to the unified sound. It takes years to be freed of Western perception (I'm still working on mine!)

[wiz9329]

interesting question, possibly relevant in singing "salvation is created", but certainly not relevant when singing a piece in ecclesiastical latin.

[yaboifly08]

There is absolutely too much moving going on during this performance. The conductor should be less selfish and allow the audience to enjoy the sound of the music and not his hopping around. I agree that the breathing should be a little less, but grand pauses are written in the music, allowing for the choir to breath just not so distinctly. I also think that the ladies should tone it down a little, they are very much so over powering the men. Please remember phrasing and diction. Overall great!!

[lennonisi]

I disagree. Music is not static, it is always in motion.

Motion through the voice, the breath, the body, and the soul.

[missrandom1996]

I did this song in choir one year, loved it since! Outstanding choir, people!

[maddiecorynne]

i hear breaths and that shouldnt be happening this song is meant to have no breaths not that i heard a ton of them you just shoudlnt hear any. and it is very very girl heavy (soprano and alto)

[Doliath]

Ok... how does one sing a song without breathing?

[maddiecorynne]

you are supposed to stagger breathe so that only a couple of people are breathing at one time. this song is meant for a huge choi with over 50 people so that 5 people could breathe at th same time and you wouldnt be able to hear it. i am in choir i know what i am talking about because we are singing this song and we have to work on stagger breathing because its meant to sound like one long phrase

[Doliath]

u in inglish class? you have to werk on ur writing.

[maddiecorynne]

thanks for insulting my intelligence, but it looks like you are the one who should work on their grammar. im sorry the keys on my computer don't always work. that isn't my fault but last time i checked i know how to spell and i get As on writing assignments in advanced english 12, so suck on that.

[Doliath]

I was obviously mocking you...

Haha. Fucking high schoolers...

[maddiecorynne]

immature douchebag. what the hell kind of grown person picks a fight with a highschool senior anyways? how immature just grow up

[Doliath]

Hahaha...

I love getting under your skin.

[kickindancer34]

all i hear are sopranos. i mean i love it cuz were singin this for our concert and i AM a soprano but the other parts just make it magical

[Andrewstory79]

lack of bass. otherwise ok

[davefaulks]

This is the first interpretation of this piece I heard - and having heard others since, I think it's the freshest - despite the shortage of male voices. A heavenly piece..

[FavisEmery]

Beautiful choir. I'd like to hear more bass, those low registers are so powerful, and I wasn't hearing them. Also on alleluia, stay more on the eh rather then ay.

But beautiful choir, beautiful piece, well done

[CaptainLuckyDuck]

I agree with the speed being too fast. When I sand it with my college choir, we too it MUCH slower so that that the MYSTERY could seep in. The tone is GOREGOUS, though, and the balance is quite well done. The tenors seem to have drowned out, though, sadly. I was a first soprano, so I know JUST how hard it is to stay quite in this song. I'm getting the chills from it all over again!^^ My favorite part is from 3:00 on. I am a HUGE fan of minors into majors!^^ And the crescendo is... WOW!

[altomajor]

lol, EVERYONE is a fan of Major to minors.

[sadguyfoundout1]

minor into major: also known as tierce de picardie! lol the technical music terminology! i used to study music, this piece sounds 20th century though im guessin the composer was of an early 20th century? lol love the cresendos in this piece. i reckon it should have been slower. LOL

[DarkDragon5695]

This is beautiful, but this choir is taking this piece quite too fast. In the original, it is slow but freely. They have a beautiful tone, and sing the piece quite well. Very very nice. Well, actually, after you think about it, it would be the director that made them sing it too fast, no? I'll attach another video of a choir that takes it slower like it should be. This video is just barely over five minutes and it should be at least seven minutes long.

[wizomania93]

Really nice, a few too many women, need more basses inparticular, doesnt quite have that rich texture that it should have. Conductor's a bit poor as well, and a little fast.

But very nice!

[ItsAFluteThing]

What I noticed the most is your singers are singing with a very spread sound. It isn't full and deep. The mouth shape is very wide. Sing vertically, not horizontally. But, for singing with improper technique, you sound good! GREAT passion as well! Memorization is also much more professional.

[pineapplehairdo]

...this was superb, you have succeeded in bringing an innocence into the presentation of the piece which just tops it... no words, just amazing

[mpmcd81]

What a fantastic choral conductor and a superb ensemble!

[cbmassage85]

Excellent JOB Great performance, you all should be glad you made that piece sound absolutly amazing, I can listen to this song all the time and be moved by it every time i sing it/ or listen to it.

[MergGates1]

lovely....we are playing this in my wind ensemble and they do a great job.... ahhh....

[imnotgone144]

This choir did amazing on this piece. It is a very difficult piece indeed. I am performing it next week in a prism concerte. My band is playing it and then the band is singing it. Honestly we do not sound as great as this yet, but we will. Well done. =D

[advenchadave]

wonderful performance from the heart of a bunch of very fine young folks ... O you web critics consider;

People who can do ... do.

People who can't do ... teach.

People who can't teach ... criticize.

[MergGates1]

And people who have comments on their page allow other people to critisize their videos. That what the star button is for. How bout this:

People who can't critisize videos: critisize other people. We state our opinions so stop your yapping.

[megswitz]

really good, but almost every single breath in this song is a head breath, no one should be able to hear a proper breathe, because it fills the lungs not the naval cavity.

[tapuliman]

this is too fast

[jbup2it]

I agree & at times the end of phrases are choppy and rushed.

[samuelsantel]

this is great

[elositodelpan]

La obra es hermosa, pero es evidente la falta de voces masculinas.

Trabajaría mas los matices en especial el comienzo de los aleluyas.

Las chicas ¡hermosas¡

[dapperd35]

Hello people!...ever try singing this song yourself? Clearly not! It is one of the most challenging songs in the acapella repertoire that a junior chorale can attempt...This group has done well, very well.

[wiz9329]

i'll give you that it is a very difficult piece, and the vocal blend is superb, with crisp consonant and warm vowels. however, there are some things that could be fixed, ie tempo, balance etc.

[anfran05]

Intonation, anyone? Way too fast through parts. I would check out a recording of the Los Angeles Master Chorale performing the piece.

[mijamz]

their intonation was fine. And the pace was exactly how fast they were supposed to do it.

[cb1282]

not bad. i've heard better though. i agree its too fast, not much emotion. the vowel shapes aren't the same either. also, the different people swaying is kind of distracting.

[st0rmyw3ath3r]

Does it strike anyone else as odd that there's that one girl without a music book in front of her? It's fine if she has it memorized, but she looks out of place!

[aukmandude]

I know UST, and I've heard them perform Magnum Mysterium.

Don't get me wrong, they're a great choir.

But competitions are competitions.

It takes more than winning prizes to win me over. It takes something more. Something that The Christiansens, Shaws, and Phyllis Zimmerman all have. That is rare to find.

UST is superb, they really are. But they can't compete with these legends.

[goku3882]

aukmandude..

a legend ok but filipino choir can be better than the legend and that is the inborn talent of the filipino and sometimes we are better than the original....

all choir are different style they are all good.....

[mtolivemusicdept]

Conductor sir... it's not about you, you over conduct! Let the music speak, you are just a small boat captain riding the waves of sonic glory

[goku3882]

ust singers of the philippines has the best rendition of this piece....

[aukmandude]

i disagree. I thought Robert Shaw's choir did a superb job.

[goku3882]

aukmandude.

UST singers= choir of the world

Philippine Madrigal singers= 2x winner of European Grand prix.

Philippines hold most of the world title in choir competition.

try to listen UST SINGERS in MAGNUM MYSTERIUM.

[waffleweave]

Polyphony also has a really nice rendition.

[ilze1987]

Great job! Maybe it would be better to sing this composition in the church? You know - better acoustic and atmosphere too.

Maybe someone from Latvia can tell me, where is it?

[xDuchessx]

I agree that the direct was a bit... over the top. It looked like he was trying to look ridiculous on /purpose/ with all that gesticulating. X3

[wookieracer]

Were playing this song as the ballad for marching band. It features the flutes clarinets and trumpets. Mostly clarinets =) Its gonna be fun. My band teacher and I just love this piece.

[sandcrab132]

Man, fuck clarinets.

[AndurilWielder]

what are you talking about?

[EmmaCate5]

wookieracer's comment I think...one page back.

[kbley]

Good job. I enjoyed hearing this again. I sung this song in my choir when I was in high school. It was one of the most single best expirences i have ever had the pleasure to be a part of. This peice is so beautiful and whenever i hear it, it makes me want to cry. I miss those days and they will always live on in my heart. So nice to see this music live on across the world.

[waxojacko]

Right, I'm sick of reading these idiotic, insulting and uninformed critiques on classical music videos. If you want to put across that you're some kind of musical genius then prove it by linking to a video of you doing something similar.

[andre26071955]

I do think they have a great conductor;he makes it very clear to me through his gestures how he want's it to be sung.

[lexus1800]

tempo wasn't too fast or too slow, there were some inconsistencies in the tempo tho

yea where the hell did that director go to school he looks like he's try to land a plane

vowels were a little bright and foward especially the "er" in mystERium, it should be more of an "eh" sound

and i agree with mattzawacki sacramen TUMMMMM please!

otherwise pretty good, AMAZING piece

[CAMELOT487]

get over your self. they did a spectacular job. and the director was just being expressive. no ones perfect including you so when i hear you sing thin song with out a SINGLE mistake then i will apologize and apologize for what i just said. but until then, good day.

[abeas1]

I think the tempo was OK. Slower doesn't always mean better, b/c a lack of both breath support and blending can make it sound worse, which is common in non-professional singers. The dynamics were a bit off, but overall, it was a good performance.

[MattZawacki]

SacramenTUMMMMM  TOMB

[laluenke]

it seemed like the upper voices were wayyyyy too loud. there are some nice lower parts that give the song a warm feeling which got completely obliterated. and it was wayyyyy too fase for my liking.

lots of talent though. is that typically how choir directors conduct? it looked terrible. lol

[Mayflower1357]

The conductor is disturbing.

[Sing4565]

Yeah, it's much better slow. This is the district competition song for next year. Wow, I love this song!!

[Rjina211]

I feel like the slow version might have been more beautiful... The point isn't rushing to hear the song: you're lingering to appreciate the intricacies of the notes... Also, if you sing it slower, it brings respect to the creator of the song.

And this song is absolutely beautiful.

[roxfanatic]

Who is this version written by?

[drbortz]

Um... Morten Lauridsen (cf. video title)

[Dan14159]

Too fast, but still very good. 4/5

[bomiic]

This version is very special because of a good choise of the tempo - slow versions are awful!

Very delicate performance, simply great!

[jbwooten89]

lol choir directors are so dramatic :D

this song is beautiful though.. we played it in band..

[runbabyrun79]

the tenors have a beautiful line the second time they sing "O Magnum" that you can barely hear!

pretty good though, we're doing this song on our upcoming tour

[starofthestage]

to heavy on the womens parts.. not heavy enough of on the mens parts. The women are a little flat on the high notes as well. No enough emphasis of the clashing parts.

still pretty though

[picardythirds]

i'd blame it on the camera ;) they never seem to want to pick up lower pitches

[zippyninny]

the ladies' "e" vowel as in "mysterium" should be more open

[typist73]

Beautiful. Possibly the best version on youtube :)

[zippyninny]

this perforamnce is not bad but i recommend the ust alumni singers version of this song...

[typist73]

could you post the url please?

[charen26]

Simply type O Magnum Mysterium (Morten Lauridsen) or type O Magnum Mysterium UST

[ccondz]

no i think it's not the best.. you should check out aup ambassador's version... it's more superb.. you'll see..

[SantokuOkuden]

A very good performance although some balance issues later on in the piece and I agree that it is a bit fast at times. But nontheless, great job. :)

[AZRP2]

i like it ...

so inspirational...

when my friend die...

i would definitely...

sing this song for him....

[Berenad]

I think the lack of solid bass is simply the nature of the piece. Other than that, superb, except for its a tab on the fast side.

[cypress1230]

better to be on the slow side and move through the sections you'd like to speed up. Vowels vowels vowles, but that's what you'll have with a young choir. Recruit some decent basses.

[Zorica12]

interesting conducting.

[susursss]

see my other video if you want to see really interesting conducting :)

[tisIdaFly]

i am happy i was able to hear it. my new chorus teacher wants us to sing it but i think that she is highly over estimating us i am kind of sad because it is a beautiful song. we shall try and see how it goes.

[music20011]

heck my highschool choir is full of a bunch of ignorant girls who dont know a thing about music. I wish we could do songs like this in school. but i have to go to different chorus' to do that.

[musicmaker17]

vowels do need work and its wayyy too loud. the whole song is basically p or pp... there is only a few parts where it crescendos and even then it only gets to about a m. but the voices are pretty.

[davetheravekl]

dude, who cares? yes dynamics and stuff are important to a point, but you can over analyse this stuff and this performance sends chills up my spine as it is

[ToxicPopsicle]

Dynamics take a song from being great to being unbelievably moving.

This song brings me to tears every time we sing it.

[davetheravekl]

yeh yeh i know i take your point. a piece of music can always be performed better. it just annoys me sometimes

[ihanahenki]

Well, they blew my high school out of the water...

[devonruiz]

slow it down

vowels need work

d's and t's..

[Ynks23]

How can people tell the conductor/groupe what to do and how to play it. it is their interpretation of the whole piece. If music were to be played one way music would be boring. You can give comments liek I prefer it this way but telling them what it has to sound like is ignorant.

[cangear]

hi guys. i dont think you can compare this with the ust group, which i viewed before this one (i only saw this as linked to that one). believe me, it is easier to perform when in a larger group because bad voices can be masked by the rest. you can just listen well here because they are more, but judging whether they are better or worse than a smaller one is unfair for both groups. anyway, this is also an excellent piece! i will also put this in my playlist, as what i did for the ust group.

[semiimusic]

Hey guys, can u stop tearing this nice piece apart, please. this is a very smal choir, and they do it very good, so stop, please! Malachi, latvieshi! Kultuuras akadeemijas koris rulle!!!

[Sinfoniahorn]

The UST version is exceptional, but believe it or not, it is also easier to sing with fewer people. Intonation, articulations, everything.... The less performers there are, the easier it is to match. That said, the performers better be good in a small ensemble.

[reallyharried]

Not necessarily. There is so much divisi and such long phrases. Provided you have a group of good singers, a larger group is preferable, IMHO.

[Sinfoniahorn]

Granted, less experienced musicians feel naked in a smaller group and play better when surrounded by larger numbers, but adding more and more players/singers does make things more difficult when it comes to matching everything. A choir of 20 good singers and 10 bad singers will sound like 30 bad singers.

[reallyharried]

true, they should certainly be good singers for a small ensemble, but 30 good singers are prefereable to 20 good singers on a lush piece like the Lauridsen. I guess I'm thinking more of O Nata Lux which probably has even more divisi than the O Magnum.

[Sinfoniahorn]

People, this isnt American Idol.... whats with all the "judging" going on. Just enjoy it...... Its a youth choir for crying out loud.

[khykhy]

I do think the tempo is a little too fast.. However the piece is still very beautiful. UST's version and a live version I heard with Wesminster Choir a few years ago (Alma Mater)had the right tempos.. Still.. Bravo guys

[tehboywonder]

slow it down some, fix a few vowels. Memorize it to get your heads out of the music and into the feeling of the piece. work on intonation a bit. Not a bad rendition at all though.

[sinneryx]

wow, not bad, i tend like it this way. good job!

[johnben0624]

i agree,listen to how UST singers perform this piece.

[emnsly]

No feelings at all! Need to practice on bringing the emotions and interpretation of the song rather than the technique. Need to practice on the intensity and harmony. Needs more practice!

[johja65459]

Lovely sound, but it moves entirely too fast. This is not an opinion, but under Lauridsen's direction, we took this at half this speed. The piece was written as a reflection of a time in his life when the clouds parted and bursts of sunlight, from God, entered his life again and allowed him to understand death. With that in mind, why would it be rushed?

Again, lovely sound! I agree that the 'ay' is heavily present in mysterium in place of an easy 'eh.' Great job, though!

[larrykc24]

johja65459. if you want to hear how Lauridsen would interpreted his masterpiece, listen to UST Singers rendition, enjoy!!!

[bearloverinny]

men are weak. it's too fast. it ruins the solemnity of the song.

[eustazio]

I'm not for their choir but the guys are like a fith of the choir so it's no wonder you can't hear them as out as the girls.

[neal7926]

oh well...I think you sounded good...but I can't feel the reverence of your singers...I think it is too fast...

[zaardele]

It is not too fast...

[heyitsjimmy21]

Great job! The only thing I would've done differently was take it a little slower. You can get the feeling out more. Also, your "eh" vowel in "mys-teh-ri-um" sounded almost like an "ey" or "ay" as in the word "day." Other than that, I liked this a lot!

[zaardele]

Es teikšu, ka skan lieliski!

Joks tāds, ka uzreiz var pateikt, ka latviešu koris dzied, jo ir līmenis un lieliska izruna! Es te tā nejauši uzgāju jūsu video, un nevarēju saprast, kāpec tik labi skan ;) . Prieks par Kasparu Ādamsonu un viņa lielisko Kori "Sōla" :))