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Use: Christmas
Required Resources: Countertenor soloist or unison choir
Language: Latin
Originally written as a motet for countertenor, this is equally useful for alto soloist or for unison choir.
The text comes from the quite poetic fourth Responsory of Matins of Christmas:
O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum!
ut animalia viderunt Dominum natum,
jacentem in præsepio.
O beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt
portare Dominum Jesum Christum, alleluia.
O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament!
that beasts should behold the birth of the Lord,
lying in a manger.
O blessed Virgin, whose womb was found worthy
to bear the Lord Jesus Christ, alleluia.
In Renaissance style, the composer sets the text in haunting d minor mode, with a simple continuo-style acompaniment.
This could easily be played by cello and organ, if those resources are available, but works well just on organ.
The first section is written in cut time, and very typical of Renaissance settings, changes to a jaunty triple time at the repeated "Alleluia" text.
This motet is a noble addition to your already abundant Christmas repertoire — worth the purchase!
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