O magnum mysterium

A Christmas motet by Poulenc, and performed by Westminster Cathedral choir, London.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Poulenc
• motet

[neuropathic]

I sang this challenge of an arrangement composed in 1952 by Poulenc in an award winning 16 member ensamble in high school. The key and dissonance lend to a dark yet also tender, striving, and hauntingly beautiful piece. O great mystery and wonderful sacrament that animals see the infant Lord lying in a manger. O great mystery ... O how truly blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear and bring forth the Lord Jesus Christ. Oh great mystery ... Beautiful job, Westminster.

[flabbyowl]

Anybody else feel that some of the phrase endings are snatched a little, particularly those ending in --a? As usual though, a nice, lively sound.

[hansmys]

Wonderful!!

[JenseninBrizo]

of the sign of seeing Jesus?

[coquine2002]

WOW! We are working on that piece for our christmas concert and it's sooooooo good! Never sang anything like that before.

[coquine2002]

The real translation of «sacramentum» is «sign». A sacrament is a sign, litterally.

[baldwalrus7]

What sacrament is it referring to when it says "wonderful scrament that annimals see the new-born Lord"?

[clarksc1988]

I sang this last Christmas in a chamber group I sing in. It's breathtakingly beautiful.

[achinghunger15]

Beautiful setting. I used to think victorias version was the best but this one is like tied. I've been getting into the 20th century music lately and Poulenc is definitely one of my favorites

[JBH113087]

i can't agree with you more.

this setting of "O Magnum Mysterium" - in my opinion - is by far the best of any other choral arrangement of this text. even lauridsens version. this just fits soo well in my opinion. beautiful music.