New "O Magnum Mysterium"
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    I just finished a short, four-voice motet setting of "O Magnum Mysterium." Would anyone like to use it this Christmas?
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Maybe.
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    HOW WOULD ANYONE KNOW?
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    I'll work out some engraving issues, and then I'll post it to this thread.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Ok, here goes. Couldn't figure out how to remove the excess measures, though. It's been a while since I used Finale Notepad.
    O Magnum Mysterium.pdf
    61K
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Here's the version with the extra measures removed. Finally figured it out!
    O Magnum Mysterium.pdf
    58K
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    Right now, the tessituras are rather low for everyone; it's more like AATB than SATB, so you could probably make this easier by transposing it up, even to F major.
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Ok. I noticed that as well. Here is the same piece transposed up a 3rd to F Major.
    O Magnum Mysterium(F Major Version).pdf
    57K
    Thanked by 2CHGiffen Salieri
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    If you can generate a MIDI file from that, feel free to post it.
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    I think that it is lovely, quite lovely.
    One thing, though, that I would change were I doing it -
    that would be organ rather than piano accompaniment.
    I would not consider the piano.
    Further, the only independent instrumental part is the few bars of introduction.
    This anthem would be quite as effective, if not more so, sung a capella, sansintroduction.
    At any rate, it is beautiful, refreshingly unpretentious and clean.
    Thanked by 1CHGiffen
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    The other day I saw a video performance of Gounod's Ave verum in which the choir hummed the organ introduction; perhaps that would work here too.
    Thanked by 1StimsonInRehab
  • M. Jackson Osborn
    Posts: 8,415
    Ohhh!... I hate choral humming!
    Thanked by 1Casavant Organist
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Strophic and vaguely reminiscent of Rene Laurisden.

    Quick question: is the insistence on dissonance intentionally building off the notion of "mysterium"?
    Thanked by 2M. Jackson Osborn CHGiffen
  • melofluentmelofluent
    Posts: 4,160
    Or Morton Clausen.
    Thanked by 4M. Jackson Osborn Adam Wood CHGiffen CGM
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    @MJO: the accompaniment was intended for organ, but the limits of Finale NotePad are such that I could not put an organ in without having 3 staves. I just wanted the two. The accompaniment is completely ad libitum anyway: you could just start where the choir enters and sing a cappella from there.
    Thanked by 1M. Jackson Osborn
  • Chris Garton-Zavesky
    Posts: 6,902
    Clerget,

    I'm being thick, dense or stupid, I guess. If the accompaniment is "completely ad libitum anyway", what does it matter how many staves you have for the organ part? Similarly, wouldn't it take a skilled organist to improvise under all that dissonance without damaging the effect it seems you're trying to create?
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Just for space saving purposes. I suppose the whole composition would be better a cappella anyway, but I included the accompaniment colla voce in case it was needed. A skilled accompanist can read in open score, but many who might be accompanying this might not be able to do that.
    Thanked by 1donr
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Here's the MIDI (the F major version)

    O Magnum Mysterium.mid
    19K
    Thanked by 3Salieri CHGiffen marymezzo
  • Adam WoodAdam Wood
    Posts: 6,482
    I like it.
    Thanked by 2ClergetKubisz Salieri
  • SalieriSalieri
    Posts: 3,177
    I like it, too.

    I particularly like your use of the f in the Alto as a pedal-tone; and also the transition from the fourth to fifth bars on p. 4, you think it's going to be V7-I, but it isn't: the addition of the ninth is attention getting but not distracting - at this point, as a choir director, I would make sure that there is no breath between "portare" and "Dominum", it definitely want's to be one phrase, perhaps you could put in a little warning about that? (Dotted slur?)
  • chonakchonak
    Posts: 9,216
    Here's an MP3:

    o_magnum.mp3
    2M
  • ClergetKubiszClergetKubisz
    Posts: 1,912
    Bump. I did this a couple of years ago. Still free for anyone to use. If you make a recording, just send me one too!
    Thanked by 1marymezzo
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