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.
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.
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.
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.
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?
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.
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..!
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!
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.
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.
"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).
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.
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.
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.
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!
Interesting that I also first learned this marvelous music in high school in 1963. In 1967 our A Capella choir added this to our LP which was in Beaverton High School near Portland, Oregon. Our choir director, Steve Stone had an encyclopedic knowledge of music & exposed us to everything from Ray Coniff arrangements, Brahms, Mozart‘s Coronation Mass, to other Renaissance masterworks as well as jazz pieces suitable for our smaller ensemble. He even could articulately compare Fischer-Dieskau & Gerard Souzay’s s interpretations of Schubert’s WINTERREISE. Not surprising that my latent love of music was initially developed because of this man. There were other great high school teachers in my experience as well & it is indeed sad to realize how our U.S educational system has in many ways declined in the last 60 years or so.
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.
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.
You know, one bad thing about Vatican II is that we Catholics are no longer required to learn and appreciate the Latin mass. As such, many beautiful musical pieces that touch the soul of a person will get lost in time.
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
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!
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 :)
I learned this in my junior year 2004 in HS for the advanced ensemble in our chorus program for our Christmas concert, I am an alto and I still remember this song from beginning to end!
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.
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
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
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.
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! 🥺😭✨🙏🏼💝❤️
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.
This is one of those pieces of music, like Mozart's Ave Verum, that are just nearly "perfect." Beautiful in style, brilliantly crafted by the composer, a brief but succinct message and wonderful emotional effect. It resonates deeply in the heart.
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
"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).
We are singing the mass in addition to the motet for Christmas at my parish this year - really looking forward to learning the mass as I have never sung it.
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...
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'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. :)
This Music is Perfect.
First learned it in 1959 . Still remember all parts perfectly. WOOHOO
all you people who were performing this in high school in the 50s and 60s, we're still singing it today. hopefully we can do it justice
This is my favorite Renaissance choral piece ever. I am a retired choral director. ❤
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.
I sang bass as well in vocal ensemble in high school. We sang this for Christmas in 1995. One of my favorite pieces ever.
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.
Obra maestra. Eterna. Gracias. Excelentes voces y ejecución
I learned this in 2016... they still teach it
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.
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.
Tomas Luis De Victoria. Siamo ai "Piani alti" della musica Sacra. Spiritualità di altissimo livello. I brani così sono una magia di note e di armonie.
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.
Goodness gracious! Why rarely, polyphony?
Let me guess: are you American?
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?
lol!...well expressed. I know you meant "complemented".
My god this is a sublime masterpiece
whenever i miss choir from my high school days i listen to this 💕 one of my favorites we ever sang.
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.
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..!
No importa cuántas veces la escuche, se me ponen los pelos de punta por tanta belleza cada vez.
i was once of the California State Honor Choir. I took five years of Latin to understand this I hope it continues to resonate.
We performed this piece for state competition in 1972. We received an "A" rating.
Increíble. Don Tomás Luis de Victoria.
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!
I sang this for the first time in high school, and >30 years later every now and word is still in my heart.
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.
Almost 50 years for me - 4 years of choir in high school, and THIS is the song I remember.
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.
they made me love choral music. so much that I studied choral conducting then! margotlorena.
I think they owe about 40% of their performance to the venue and it's acoustics.
@@wonderlasting well, it's a group of professional singers directed by John Rutter
@@lorenamenendez6709 Ok, 20 %?
@@wonderlasting cry
"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).
So love singing this piece for Christmas.
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 also sang this more than 50 years ago as a member of the Antwerp Cathedral Choir. The composition is so elegant. I love it
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.
A real gem - An enchanted harmony, perfect acoustics and a truly magical atmosphere.. !
Lo sublime y lo celestial
camina en cada notas
y es tal el alborozo
que siento a Dios en mi aprieto ,
volando en la armonía
donde lo divino nos toca .
Puts me into the deepest part of my connection with the Divine.
We did this song in Meistersingers at college. Great song. And you better be on pitch.
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.
yep. agree. Gregorian Chant.
Thank you for clarifying this! The discrepancy was bugging me.
+NightOwlie. This piece is from the Renaissance era. Gorgerian chants are monophonic, this piece has layers to it
i was wondering why it didn't sound right to the music
THANK YOU!!! This was bothering me so much!!
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!
Interesting that I also first learned this marvelous music in high school in 1963. In 1967 our A Capella choir added this to our LP which was in Beaverton High School near Portland, Oregon. Our choir director, Steve Stone had an encyclopedic knowledge of music & exposed us to everything from Ray Coniff arrangements, Brahms, Mozart‘s Coronation Mass, to other Renaissance masterworks as well as jazz pieces suitable for our smaller ensemble. He even could articulately compare Fischer-Dieskau & Gerard Souzay’s s interpretations of Schubert’s WINTERREISE. Not surprising that my latent love of music was initially developed because of this man. There were other great high school teachers in my experience as well & it is indeed sad to realize how our U.S educational system has in many ways declined in the last 60 years or so.
Just sang this at a choir concert recently and it's such a rewarding piece to learn.
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.
i am going to loose my shit trying to learn the words and timing
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.
Yeeees. So royal and beautiful
Sanged it with Beaumont interfaith choral society in Beaumont TX beautiful ❤❤
You know, one bad thing about Vatican II is that we Catholics are no longer required to learn and appreciate the Latin mass. As such, many beautiful musical pieces that touch the soul of a person will get lost in time.
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
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!
High school for me too- 1976. My favorite of all the pieces we performed. ❤
Those suspensions give me chills every time
The suspension in the alto line at ca. 1:39-1:40 gets me every time! I will probably never tire of this piece, and especially of this moment.
Me too!!! Makes it lovely to BE an alto when you get pieces like this to sing!
moonbeamchaos I love it with male altos especially!
YES!!!! It is SO haunting!
@@moonbeamchaos ķ pp 0ķ 0 00 PPP 000000000 lo pp0p00bn0
My favorite part is also with Alto when they sing Jesus 03:05 - 03:08 before Alleluia
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 :)
I learned this in my junior year 2004 in HS for the advanced ensemble in our chorus program for our Christmas concert, I am an alto and I still remember this song from beginning to end!
This was the hardest song of the year for us in high school, definitely brought a bead of sweat to the brow at the annual madrigal dinner!
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.
This song is so beautiful! The lyrics are very powerful too.
every time I listen to this I get cold chills.... god I love it
Beautiful! Absolutely beautiful!
I agree, but prefere Sicut Cervus!
the ending is incredibly advanced, i love the tonal ambiguity
What a magnificent composition.
Currently studying for a needle drop exam- of everything we’ve studied, this is my favorite.
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
Such a beautiful song and a great soul mover God bless you and be with you all
My favorite part is at the end where the tenors and altos overlap. Stunning! 3:45 to the end
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
Sublime!!
We won state competition with this piece back in '95. Well done!
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.
I learned this song my senior year in high school. One of my personal favorite songs
Grande es Dios. Agradecido por haber dejado en España grandes compositores de Él mismo.
Wonderful way to prepare myself for a solemn high Midnight Mass
If sirens would sing this and lead me to my demise I'd be perfectly fine with that
definitely one of the better comments I've read lately ^^
Melissa Whittaker i
horrible
I can think of worse demises.
Melissa Whittaker Except it would be not sirens but angels leading you not to your demise but to God Our Lord Himself.
The most moving moment to me is the part from "praesepio" to "o beata" -- and the space in between. So fraught, and so slegant.
I studied this piece at conservatory and after 26 years I still remember the alto part.
Preciosa obra de uno de los mejores compositores de su tiempo, Tomás luis de Victoria
It's sublime.
Heavenly beautiful.
Fine piece of music. Humanity reaching out towards God.
Beautiful. 1semitone higher than what is shown on the piece.❤❤❤
the bass sounds amazing.. really sound like pure
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! 🥺😭✨🙏🏼💝❤️
Beautiful ❤
3:43 In the score there's a F in the basses line, but it's a D! Victoria's music is just amazing!
Sang this at IL All-State 2003. Always loved the ending.
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.
Good luck!!
@@margoh.9423 thank you, a little late as we performed it already but still thank you and it went very well.
Learned it in 1967, Presbyterian College, S C. Dr Gaines.
Alto
I remember learning this magisterial piece, still haven't forgotten it! Wonderful work!
1572. Spain.
That final cadence HOLY SHIT :O amazing
I sang this at a wedding one time - love it.
Someone help me! This piece is too beautious!!!!!!!!!!
and 2:26 til the end is just…….AH!!….its haunting. I loved singing this in my chamber choir back in 2004.
This is one of those pieces of music, like Mozart's Ave Verum, that are just nearly "perfect." Beautiful in style, brilliantly crafted by the composer, a brief but succinct message and wonderful emotional effect. It resonates deeply in the heart.
Hearing this recalls me how much choir misses me. How many composers i'd love to interpret sheets and how powerful can be voices acappella
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
"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).
We are singing the mass in addition to the motet for Christmas at my parish this year - really looking forward to learning the mass as I have never sung it.
@@DarcyPorter-k1k Cheer up, I'm sure it will turn out great!
@ thank you, I’m not lacking the cheer - looking forward to learning it :)
I swear it heals me somehow, listening to this.
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...
High school choir days , I miss high school , I’m 29 now 🥰
懐かしい！
また歌いたい…
El maestro...the master
We are singing this in my middle school choir. Love it
Arte
When I performed this my junior year I shed a tear as the song closed
Beautifully done!
I'm singing this for my chamber choir and jesus holy lamb of god, it's a STRUGGLE. LEMME TELL YOU
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 ❤️❤️❤️
Always loved singing this one, way back in the 70s.
Takes me back to my salad days...and much happiness!
Thank you SO much for including the sheet music! Helped me remember a couple of parts I've gotten foggy on over the past 50 years!
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. :)
Pffffff this is music. Good one. Not the only one. But a base settler music, for sure.