Care to share what your favorite setting of O Magnum Mysterium is? Am singing Poulenc this year, but I love the Victoria and enjoy the Lauridsen. Other settings you like?
Tie: Victoria/Poulenc. But my romantic heart edges toward Poulenc. Had the pleasure of conducting Skippy's OMM for Paul Salamunovich, though, 'twas cool.
Usually, when I think of O Magnum I'm thinking it to Palestrina's music -
but this polychoral setting is not practical for most choirs.
Victoria is of course always wonderful.
CHG - I don't know the Stadlmayr: can you say something about it?
Mine! I set this beautiful poem a few years ago (actually I've done it several times, but that one is the most successful so far) in college, and it was performed on a friend's choral recital. However, I absolutely love the Lauridsen and the Victoria, since the Victoria is the work that introduced me to this lovely text.
I should perhaps be recused, but Ann Callaway's setting (SATB with very slight divisi) is very dear to me, as is she herself. Stadlmayr and others are listed on CPDL; the Clemens not-a-potato 6-part setting is especially nice.
For listening, I've always been partial to the Victoria (Jordi Savall's accompanied rendition is notably intriguing) and the Lauridsen (Salamunovich/LA Master Chorale is the gold standard).
For a volunteer SATB church choir, I gravitate towards pieces that do not challenge singers' ranges. Based on this criterion the Victoria wins hands down, with the Stadlmayr and de Cristo settings deserving some consideration.
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