James Lancelot, Master of the Choristers and Organist, directs the Choir of Durham Cathedral, Durham, England (circa May 2002) in a performance of the Christmas motet, "O magnum mysterium," by the great English Renaissance composer William Byrd (1543-1623).
O magnum mysterium, et amaribile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, iacentem in praesepio:
O beata Virgo, cuius viscera meruerunt
portare Dominum Iesum Christum.
Alleluia.
O great mystery and wondrous thing,
that the animals behold the newborn Lord lying in a manger.
O blessed Virgin, whose womb
was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ.
Alleluia.
Pictured is an interior corner of the Chapel of Nine Altars, Durham Cathedral.
@jyhughes
. I did try DCOCA two years or more ago who didn't manage to come up with any definite info - thanks anyway. Do you yourself have a connection with either Durham Choristers or Durham School? Please E-mail me at pwsandmj@aol.com.
Peter Stanley
pwsandmj 1 month ago
@pwsandmj - Have you tried contacting the Durham Cathedral Old Choristers Association (DCOCA)?
jyhughes1 1 month ago
nice (Y)
cesslauderfrost 4 months ago
This choir sounds great, if a little unusual for a British choir; normally one expects to hear no vibrato.
Taenyr 5 months ago
Great singing - took me back to when I was a
Durham Catrhedral chorister under Conrad Eden (also, at first, Cyril Maude).
Peter Stanley.
P.S. Does anyone know what became of my friend Gordon Gregg?
pwsandmj 7 months ago
fabulous singing , worthy one of the greatest and most ancient seats of english christianity
leedshunk 8 months ago
Absolutely beautiful. Excellent performance in a splendid space which I hope to visit some day. The professional church choir in which I sing will present this and two other Byrd motets on Christmas Eve. Ahh...serene and splendid Byrd...
sophelet 1 year ago
Magnificent Byrd by a great Cathedral Choir. Thank you for this moment.
treblechoir99 1 year ago