O Magnum Mysterium - The Smith Ensemble

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On Father's Day 2020 our daughter and family were over at our home. At one point during the visit, she asked her dad if he knew what she was playing on her phone. He immediately responded, "O I love this piece!" After listening for a few moments she pulled out her Father's Day gift, the sheet music of this most beautiful choral setting of O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen. After singing it once, "Our daughter enthusiastically said, "We should record this!" Thus the seed was planted. .
A couple of months previous, one of our sons was sent home early from his Church mission in England due to the pandemic which made it possible for all members of The Smith Ensemble to be home that summer--a huge blessing!! In August our missionary son was reassigned to finish out his Church mission in Texas leaving in just a few short weeks, the first week of September. There is nothing like a deadline to help get things moving quickly.
With support from dear friends, a great audio engineer and a wonderful videographer, we proceeded to rehearse, record and create a video, with our family (which really involves three families). When it all somehow came together we counted it as a "tender mercy," getting it all done before our son left again. It did take us almost a year to edit and complete but time has made it all the more sweet as the powerful message still rings pure and simply. The music is spell-binding and brings such a sacred feeling reminding us of the humble birth of the Son of God, witnessed by Mary and Joseph and the stable animals, who gave up their manger for the Newborn King, our Savior Jesus Christ. This video is our small offering to Him during this Christmas season and throughout the years to come.
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 newborn Lord,
lying in their manger!
Blessed is the virgin whose womb
was worthy to bear
the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia!
Credits:
O Magnum Mysterium by Morten Lauridsen
Performed by The Smith Ensemble
Recording Engineer: Guy Randle
Recorded at Rosewood Studio, Provo, Utah;
Videography: RJ Idos
Filmed at Springville Art Museum, Springville, Utah
Sheet music: www.sheetmusic....
Video license: Peermusic Nov 2021