O Magnum Mysterium

SKU: CF.CM9698

ISBN 9781491159996. UPC: 680160918591. Key: Ab major. Latin. Traditional Latin.

O Magnum Mysterium is a setting of a Latin sacred text written for Christmas. The text depicts the extraordinary occurring among the ordinary: God coming to earth as a tiny baby, and animals in a lowly stable being the first to witness his arrival. Adding dynamic contrast (crescendo/decrescendo) on every phrase and singing legato (smoothly) with a gentle choral tone will reflect the wonder and awe the original text and this setting attempt to communicate. Original Latin Text: English Translation: O magnum mysterium, O great mystery, Et admirabile sacramentum, And wonderful sacrament, Ut animalia viderunt That animals should see Dominum natum the newborn Lord jacentem in praesepio. Lying in a manger. O magnum mysterium. Amen. O great mystery. Amen. General Latin Pronunciation Guidelines: 1. There are only five pure vowel sounds in Latin: A = AH E=EH I = EE O = AW U = OO 2. Strive to flip all R's as if singing in Italian. Latin Pronunciation (accented syllables are UPPER CASE): aw MAH-nyoom mee-STEHR-yoom,* eht ahd-mee-RAH-bee-leh sah-krah-MEHN-toom, oot ah-nee-MAH-lee-ah vee-DEHR-oont DAW-mee-noom NAH-toom, yah-CHEHN-tehm een preh-SEH-pee-aw. aw MAH-nyoom mee-STEHR-yoom. AH-mehn. *The word mysterium in this piece is a three-syllable rather than a four-syllable word. This can be accomplished by pronouncing the last syllable ium as yoom rather than ee-oom.
O Magnum Mysterium is a setting of a Latin sacred text written for Christmas. The text depicts the extraordinary occurring among the ordinary: God coming to earth as a tiny baby, and animals in a lowly stable being the first to witness his arrival. Adding dynamic contrast (crescendo/decrescendo) on every phrase and singing legato (smoothly) with a gentle choral tone will reflect the wonder and awe the original text and this setting attempt to communicate.Original Latin Text: English Translation:O magnum mysterium, O great mystery,Et admirabile sacramentum, And wonderful sacrament,Ut animalia viderunt That animals should seeDominum natum the newborn Lordjacentem in praesepio. Lying in a manger.O magnum mysterium. Amen. O great mystery. Amen.General Latin Pronunciation Guidelines:1. There are only five pure vowel sounds in Latin:A = AH E=EH I = EE O = AW U = OO2. Strive to flip all R’s as if singing in Italian.Latin Pronunciation (accented syllables are UPPER CASE):aw MAH-nyoom mee-STEHR-yoom,*eht ahd-mee-RAH-bee-leh sah-krah-MEHN-toom,oot ah-nee-MAH-lee-ah vee-DEHR-oontDAW-mee-noom NAH-toom,yah-CHEHN-tehm een preh-SEH-pee-aw.aw MAH-nyoom mee-STEHR-yoom. AH-mehn.*The word “mysterium” in this piece is a three-syllable rather than a four-syllable word. This can be accomplished by pronouncing the last syllable “ium” as “yoom” rather than “ee-oom”.

SKU: CY.CC2894

Victoria's rich, mysterious and serene 4-part Renaissance Christmas motet, O Magnum Mysterium was written in 1572. The composer intended it to be sung at another service later in the year. It has become a Christmas tradition for many choirs.
Andrew Converse has arranged this beautiful 4-minute work of moderate difficulty for Brass Quartet of 2 Trumpets in B-flat and 2 Trombones. An additional Horn substitute for the Trombone I part has been included as well.