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OTHER "O Magnum Mysterium" settings?Date: June 1, 2012 by Michael Dell  Views: 4329
In my upcoming "Animals and the Winter Holidays" Concert, I'd like to consider using several contrasting choral settings of "O Magnum Mysterium", I'm already well-acquainted with wonderful settings by Victoria, Morten Lauridsen, and Nicholas White. Can anyone recommend other settings which are in a completely different idiom (jazz, or othe "populist" styles, etc.)? I certainly plan to use a few of these fine established settings, but would also like to "push the envelope" somewhat, and introduce my audiences to potentially unfamiliar settings as well. It would probably be best not to have to much divisi beyond SATB this year. Many thanks!
Replies (29): Threaded | Chronological
Frank La Rocca on June 1, 2012 10:18am
Dear Michael,
While it is not a "populist" style, I do think you might be interested in this setting published by Walton: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3SMLinOVi7c
I can direct you to a perusal score if you are interested.
Best wishes,
Frank La Rocca
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 1, 2012 10:25am
Hi Michael,
While the settings you mention are lovely, my absolute favorite setting is Poulenc's. It's part of his grouping of Motets for Advent. It is not jazzy but 20th century and perhaps slightly reminiscent of early music. There are a few harmonies that make it truly 20th century.....it's gorgous but tough! It would be striking to pair it with the Victoria.
Marie
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 1, 2012 10:30am
I think you would find the setting by Francis Poulenc "different" and contrasting to those you have listed.
Larry Smith
Missouri Baptist University
St. Louis MO
smithl(a)mobap.edu
Applauded by an audience of 2
on June 1, 2012 9:19pm
Have you looked at the setting by Cesar Carrillo? It's very different and beautiful and there are some Youtube performances out there to preview it. My SATB Choir performed it and it was a hit!
Jocelyn Kalajian
Century College
White Bear Lake, MN
Applauded by an audience of 3
on June 2, 2012 6:35am
Hi again, Michael.
_____ 5199 O Magnum Mysterium (Score)
_____ 5708 O Magnum Mysterium (Choral score), NESTOR, Leo, (SATB, Brass, Percussion)
_____ 3137 O Magnum Mysterium (O Greatest of Mysteries) No. 2 from "Three Christmas Motets", ASHFORTH, Alden, (S solo, SATBB)
_____ 4927 O Magnum Mysterium (O Mystery beyond all Knowledge), MOCHNICK, John, (SATB)
_____ 1.5250 O Magnum Mysterium, BYRD, William, (SATB)
_____ 5888 O Magnum Mysterium, CONTE, David, (SSATB)
Best regards,
Stanley
on June 2, 2012 7:20am
Michael, I don't know if Swiss composer, Carl Rutti's setting of O Magnum has been published or not. He sent me a copy of the manuscript and permitted us to duplicate and perform it. It's scored for 13 parts and is an astonishing piece--including a nod to jazz at the final cadence. There is a professional recording of the work (a British label--I'm writing this from home so don't have the details, but it's a recording of several of Rutti's choral works). We've had the pleasure of performing it twice, contrasting with the Victoria, Lauridsen, and Poulenc on those occasions.--Mark Mecham
on June 2, 2012 7:48am
Sally Herman has a lovely unaccompanied setting of this (one of my favorite Christmas texts of all time... being an animal lover...)published by Lorenz. I used to alternate it with the Poulenc, Lauridsen, and Vittoria settings over the years before I retired.
There are two decent performances of it to be found on Youtube.
I hope you are also considering programming Peter Warlock's "The First Mercy" text by P. Blunt...
Sounds like my kind of program!
Cheers!
Phil Micheal
out of detroit and in mexico
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 2, 2012 9:24am
There is also an amazing setting by Pierre Villette (1926–1998), a French composer.
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 2, 2012 12:29pm
David Bennett Thomas (Philadelphia) has an excellent setting of this. I apologize that I don't have his contact info handy, but I believe he is on faculty at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.
Robert A.M. Ross
info(a)robertamross.com
on June 2, 2012 7:16pm
William Hawley has an interesting setting of the text. It is a modern approach, of course.
Applauded by an audience of 2
on June 3, 2012 1:53am
I love the Poulenc and Villette, and the Byrd is a masterpiece.
There are other Renaissance settings (Clemens non Papa, Palestrina)
But I especially love Peter Maxwell Davies, which can be sung as a unison tune, or as a two-part work for SA, or in four parts (SATB). I've done a concert with O magums scattered throughout, and used all three versions of the Davies and thought it was really effective.
Best,
Andrew Megill
Westminster Choir College
Montreal Symphony Orchestra
Carmel Bach Festival
Fuma Sacra
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 3, 2012 7:37am
I know you don't want to go beyond SATB, but for others looking for O Magnum settings there is the polychoral setting by Giovanni Gabrieli. I have heard it done effectively with voices on one choir and instruments/organ on the second choir with a tenor solo.
David Childs has a lovely setting that would probably work for you.
Jeff DeMarco
on June 3, 2012 6:59pm
My friend, Brian Bondari has a beautiful setting of this text. If you would like me to email it to you, please let me know. Your group will love it.
Tod
on June 4, 2012 5:04am
Michael,
By searching for "O Magnum Mysterium" in Musica database (www.musicanet.org ) , you'll get 132 answers, many with a sound file or a video.
Good luck !
Jean
on June 4, 2012 7:19am
Check out the setting by William Hawley. I've only performed it once, in SD Honors choirs in 1999 or 2000. I've never heard it anywhere else, but I still remember it to this day. Very touching piece.
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 4, 2012 7:57am
Hi, Michael --
I've got a setting that was commissioned by Choral Chameleon and premiered this past December in NYC. It's SATB, no divisi. It moves gently in 6/4 time and has very approachable modal harmonies, with a fugue on "Alleluia" at the end. In total, it's about 5' long. I'd be happy to send you a score/.mp3 if you're interested -- just send me a note.
All the best, and thanks for considering,
Joseph Gregorio
joseph(a)josephgregoriomusic.com
Applauded by an audience of 2
on June 4, 2012 9:59am
I would absolutely recommend a stunning version by Richard Busch - you can view the music and listen to a sample audio here:
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 4, 2012 5:06pm
David Childs' setting (Santa Barbara Music Publishing) is wonderful. See/hear at www.sbmp.com
on June 4, 2012 7:03pm
There's a wonderful setting by Ned Rorem that I like quite a bit. Kind of jazz modal with a nod to early stuff as well. Challenging but doable.
Phil
on June 6, 2012 1:01am
Hi Michael,
I can't help but recommend my O MAGNUM MYSTERIUM (SATB, no divisi) setting.
Here a wonderful rendition with ECU Chamber singers.
If you are interested, contact me please.
IVO ANTOGNINI
music composer
Applauded by an audience of 1
on June 6, 2012 3:22pm
I think Nancy Galbraith has a setting of this and she is a great composer! Good luck with your project. Her works are available via Subito. ` Heather
on June 7, 2012 4:55am
The fairly recent setting by René Clausen is quite lovely.
The original chant melody is quoted a couple of times. It is in 8
parts, but your group may be able handle this. I did this setting
with a 25-voice choir of university students I think a recording of
this has just been released by the Phoenix Chorale.
on June 7, 2012 7:45am
My daughter has written a lovely SATB arrangement; it has a strong Renaissance feel, however, and may not be the style you are looking for. The melody is haunting; although I may be prejudiced, I think it's very beautiful!
on June 8, 2012 5:19am
You might check out Ola Gjeilo's setting: Serenity (O Magnum Mysterium)
Applauded by an audience of 1
on July 8, 2012 7:06pm
There are so many lovely settings of O Magnum! I have been thinking of putting together, one of these years, a performance entitled Magna cum Laude (because I just can't resist)--a bunch of O Magnums and some Laudes. The O Magnums I'm thinking of are all mentioned above (the Hawley is just 5 parts and would be esp. accessible to a high school group, I think).
on July 9, 2012 6:06am
I would also recommend a new setting by Libby Larsen. If you are looking to "push the envelope" a bit, her setting is accessible (although it may not seem so when you initially view it) and incorporates live singing, a recorded and somewhat manipulatable track, and optional live instrument. You can find it on her website as she self-publishes it.
Good wishes,
Jennifer Kelly
Lafayette College
on July 19, 2012 1:42pm
I know many Renaissance settings have been mentioned, but the de Morales (http://www3.cpdl.org/wiki/index.php/O_magnum_mysterium_(Crist%C3%B3bal_de_Morales) ) is truly striking.
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