Jaakko Mäntyjärvi: O magnum mysterium
Choir of Trinity College Cambridge; Stephen Layton, Conductor
Ola Gjeilo: Serenity
Central Washington University Chamber Choir; Gary Weidenaar, Director; John Michel, Cello
From the YouTube page:
TEXT:
O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum. Ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, iacentem in praesepio: Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum, Alleluia
TRANSLATION:
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 our Saviour, Christ. Alleluia!
ABOUT THE COMPOSER:
Ola Gjeilo was born in Norway in 1978 and moved to the United States in 2001 to begin his composition studies at the Juilliard School in New York City, where he currently resides and works as a full-time composer.
Ola’s recordings include the Decca Classics albums Ola Gjeilo and Winter Songs, featuring Tenebrae, Voces8 and the Choir of Royal Holloway. His choral works and piano pieces are published by Walton Music, wind band works by Boosey & Hawkes.
For more information, please visit olagjeilo.com or find Ola on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.
ABOUT THE CHOIR:
Since 2009, the choir has held annual recording sessions to create videos specifically designed for YouTube. All are under the baton of Dr. Gary A. Weidenaar, who has been the director of the choir since 2006.
As of 2017, there are more than 30 videos. Ten of those feature the music of Ola Gjeilo and are the result of working with Mr. Gjeilo in 3 recording sessions over a 5 year period. The choir has videos of Gjeilo’s Sanctus, Across the Vast Eternal Sky, Contrition, Luminous Night of the Soul, the Ground, Ubi Caritas I and II, and Northern Lights, Unicornis Captivatur, Wintertide, Dark Night of the Soul, and Serenity with Piano Improvisation.
Yes, it’s time for my Advent series again. To begin with I’ll do a variety of the same work, arranged by different composers, sung in a variety of styles. Some might appeal to you, some may not. But I just find it so interesting to hear so many different takes on this piece.
Veni, Veni, Emmanuel
Gesualdo Six
Veni, Veni Emmanuel
The Gesualdo Six | Owain Park
Traditional, arranged by Philip Lawson
Recorded September 2014
The Gesualdo Six | Owain Park
Patrick Dunachie, Guy James – Countertenor
Joseph Wicks, Hiroshi Amako – Tenor
Michael Craddock – Baritone
Jonathan Pacey – Bass
