Singers are off to a great start with debut concert in St. Lawrence Chapel

The Market Square Singers' American debut today at St. Lawrence Chapel was acclaimed with applause from the enthusiastic audience. After opening with Daniel Gawthrop's "Sing a Mighty Song," the choir sang a program (read here) similar to those planned for the Italian cities of Assisi, Florence, Lucca, and Pistoia. They leave for Italy on June 17. Among the high points of the concert was "O Magnum Mysterium" by Morten Lauridsen (watch and listen here).

Lauridsen, born in 1943, is an American composer of Danish decent. He won the National Medal of Arts in 2007. He was composer-in-residence of the Los Angeles Master Chorale (1994-2001), and has been a professor of composition at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music for more than 30 years.

Lauridsen's harmonic language varies with the text of each choral work, but consists primarily of extended triadic harmonies in different inversions and spacings, as well as occasional quartal harmonies and tone clusters. A first-inversion major triad with an added 9th is a particularly recognized sound in much of his more recent work. This sonority characterizes "O Magnum Mysterium," a responsorial chant from the Matins of Christmas.

The text and translation are given here:

Latin text

O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum,

ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem in praesepio!

Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum.

Alleluia.

English translation

O great mystery, and wonderful sacrament,

that animals should see the new-born Lord,
lying in a manger!

Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear Christ the Lord.

Alleluia!

See and hear the audience reaction here.