One of the great masterpieces of the Renaissance. I can still sing the tenor part by heart after forty years of not singing it. And that's not because I'm so good, but because Victoria is.
For those concerned about the pitch of this performance: the sheet music shown (modern notation) is transcribed from the printed copy displayed at the end, which is presumably faithful to the original manuscript. In music of this period, there is some question about what pitches, exactly, the manuscript notes were actually intended to represent. It is likely that singers were supposed to follow the customary practice of Gregorian chant, which was sung at any pitch convenient to the singers--which is evidenced by the fact that certain contemporaneous pieces are absolutely impossible to sing at the pitches we consider those manuscript notes to represent today.
The Tenor line is so beautiful. Especially at the end. Also I noticed how there are Contralto and Countertenors singing the Alto line. Just beautiful..!
Sang this in High School Madrigals almost 40 years ago. Sang it in the Illinois State Rotunda Building a few times. We had perfected it. Still get tears in my eyes.
Learned it and sang it first in high school - back in 1963. Last performed it as a senior in 1966. Saw the sheet music and recalled the bass line almost perfectly after fifty years! The classical music we learned back then - and practiced and practiced and practiced till perfect - was a gift to all of us that enriched our lives.
MrPerfesser En el colegio también aprendimos canto gregoriano: la misa, salve (la de los dominicos que cantábamos a dos voces) y otros. Yo también lo recuerdo todo y además esta música te enseña a apreciar y a valorar la enorme riqueza de nuestra cultura Europea.
MrPerfesser I learned this in high school too, 87 or 88. I have sung it often since. Well, just my part and mostly in the shower, or to cheer me up and comfort me when I need it. It never fails.
"O magnum mysterium" (1572) es un motete a 4 voces de Tomás Luis de Victoria, músico español del Renacimiento. Sobre este motete Victoria escribió una misa completa con el mismo título (1592).
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!
"O magnum mysterium" (1572) is a 4-voice motet by the Spanish Renaissance musician Tomás Luis de Victoria. On this motet Victoria wrote a complete mass with the same title (1592).
O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia. 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!
Our high school concert choir sang this back in early 1970s and this brings back so many beautiful memories. Considering political sensitivities that prevail today, are public schools allowed to sing beautiful religious music like this and others, like the Faure Requirem, etc? Too bad it they can't because this exposure to these hauntingly beautiful and uplifting songs has enriched my life!
Schools are totally allowed to sing religious pieces! It's because they're art and not propaganda. Plus, most people can't even tell what the words mean so...
Genial partitura,muy buen video, muy bueno ,espectacular y muy grande,el compositor Tomás luis de victoria,todas sus composiciones,son extraordinarias,una gozada SU Composición
That bass line in the last 4 measures is so gorgeously complimented by the feeling of anguish in the tenor line. Brilliant piece. Wow. I’m not crying, I’m... chopping onions?
Sang this my freshman year of high school and my class begged to sing it again every year until our teacher finally let us sing again our senior year. I still remember that soprano part word for word. Easily one of my favorite songs I've ever sung.
My Catholic choir did this too and you're 100% right its a challenge! But man does it feel good when you finally nail a section piece by piece until you get the whole Octovo down!
I remember well the first time I sang this...HOLY MOTHER MARY, it indeed was challenging, mostly because I hadn’t gotten my Polyphony style straight tone under control yet, but I LOVED this piece so much I didn’t care...I still love this piece, it’s one of my favorite Renaissance Polyphonies ❤️❤️❤️
I could be missing the comments talking about 3:15?? That transition into the quick and staccato style, along with the time signature change, is amazing.
This group is amazing, the pitch is perfect, the legato is perfect, the quality of sound is perfect perfectly controlled dynamics, how wonderful! They do justice to this music.
I do rarely polyphony with my choir, but when i choose to do so i have several pieces which i consider to be prime to demonstrate beauty of old masters. This piece is excellent representation of period.
I'm sure in the hundreds of comments this may have already pointed this out - but the base note that is written at 3:43 should be a D, not an F. Still one of the greatest pieces of music in all of history. And a beautiful recording
My high school state champion choir directed by Elaine Clarke, sang this in the still incomplete Washington Cathedral in DC in 1968. For me, this was an unforgettable experience.
What happy memories this brings back. I learned this in high school in the early 60s. I remembered some of it. :) But I had a blast singing it again and refreshing myself. How lovely to be able to sing with others, something I've so missed since this terrible pandemic. And, of course, nothing beats The King's Singers to sing along with. Wow! Thank you so much for posting the sheet music!
'O Magnum Mysterium ' essentially describes in part the nativity of Jesus. While not directly quoted from the Bible, this chant of unknown authorship originally used in Matins services for Christmas was certainly inspired by descriptions of the Nativity in the Gospels, and has been around since the 10th century or so. This version is from the late 1500's. There are many, many musical settings of 'O Magnum', this being one of the best known. Some versions are quite modern. There are also several variations of the Latin text, and the translations thereof. Here is one for this version of the text: O magnum mysterium et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in præsepio. Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt Portare Dominum Jesum Christum. Alleluia. 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 Jesus Christ the Lord. Alleluia. Another version you may enjoy is by Palestrina, written even earlier than Victoria's.
We are actually performing this piece in 6 days and I’m super excited as the bass part I’m hoping to sound this mature and elegant during our performance wish me luck.
I first sang this over 50 years ago with the choir I was then a member of, and whose musical director knew how to get the best out of the choir, and the interpretation of this music. The nostalgia is overwhelming. I miss being able to sing like this anymore.
I love this one ! Victoria's O magnum mysterium is one of my favourites to sing in choir, But sometimes I listen it while driving, singing the tenor part, and I have lot of fun :D Enjoy
Awesome piece of choral music. First learned this in 1985 when I was a Sophomore in high school. Then got the pleasure of singing it again in college. Never gets old and the Cambridge Singers recording is outstanding.
I know, right? My choir did this piece too for a Christmas concert, only about a few weeks ago! The results were phenomenal. Probably the best piece in our entire show. It was a shame our basses and altos were kinda quiet. At least me and two of the other tenors were able to carry the melody loud enough to clash with/overpower the sopranos at certain points.
The bass line has a wrong note in the last bar of the second to last system. It's supposed to be a D (which is what the singers sing, and what makes sense in the harmony), but there is an F.
So much to love here. Brilliant voice leading. So many interesting changes in texture and interplays between lines. I absolutely melt at 2:15 as the upper lines descend together to conclude the phrase - a stand out moment for me. Just goes to show how much a composer can do with just four lines of music...sublime.
my choir is singing this version and ACE (advanced choral ensemble) is singing the laurdisen version. its so gorgeous and im so blessed that i can sing a wonderful masterpiece inspired by my Lord and Savior Jesus Christ :)
Sang this with St Patrick's Cathedral choir in NYC in 1980s. I remembered every word and cue in my part. I love singing polyphony almost more than Mozart.
The whole note F in the bass on the score should actually be a D. They are also singing a semitone higher than this score. Does anyone know why this is? Is it a period thing? Amazing piece. Amazing performance.
I can't speak for the apparent error in the score, but this piece is published in multiple keys. The group I sing with is taking it down a semitones from what is given in our score.
I can't speak for the apparent error in the score, but this piece is published in multiple keys. The group I sing with is taking it down a semitones from what is given in our score.
Currently listening to this in my US history class. This music pulls me into a different world entirely, one I’d love to remain in forever, however I’m stuck doing papers nonstop. Maybe this is the power of music.
I love when the harmony at: 0:38 and the one after it. "Chord Wise" (I am a new Music Major) it is such a BEAUTIFUL harmony. I love the Intervals! It reminds me of the reasons I wanted to get into writing this kind of music while everyone else writes pop. This is so beautiful and Dynamic
I'm sorry, but I have to say this: I am a high school student who is currently learning this. I find it to be simply beautiful that I am learning a song that someone who is 50+ years my senior. I know the song was composed centuries ago, but it's amazing how music is able to bridge the generations together. :)
My choir is learning this! It is absolutely beautiful, simply amazing. My voice is a little deep so I have to sing the tenor part on this piece, but it’s still great.
Last night, my Choir class and I went to a Vocal Music Festival at a church and the Orange High School sang this song! 🎤🎶⛪️ From the moment I heard them singing this, my mind was completely blown away bc of how amazingly beautiful this song is! 🥺😭✨🙏🏼💝❤️
