O Nata Lux by Morten Lauridsen | Choral Music

It was late last September as I sat at the piano in the choir loft of a church here on the Coast. I was substitute playing for a friend one Sunday morning, and a piece of paper on the music rack caught my eye. It was information for an upcoming concert featuring a capella choral works from several different composers, ranging from the 1600's to recent years. This music would be performed by a high school madrigal group and a university chorus; the chorus would be directed by a friend of ours. "Wow!" I thought. "This ought to be really good!" So a few days later, my family and I drove over to this church and immensely enjoyed each and every piece of music we heard. The voices in each choral group were phenomenal!

One of my favorites from that evening was "O Nata Lux", a sacred choral motet written by the contemporary composer Morten Lauridsen for the late Paul Salamunovich, conductor of the Los Angeles Master Chorale. It is one of several poems set to music in Lauridsen's magnificent work "Lux Aeterna" ("Eternal Light"). You can read the composer's own thoughts on Lux Aeterna here.

Incidentally, the chorus performing O Nata Lux in this particular video is the same one that performed Pilgrim's Hymn in my last Choral Music post: the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire choir. It's absolutely beautiful.

O nata lux de lumine,		O born light of light,
Jesu redemptor saeculi		Jesu redeemer of the world,
dignare clemens supplicum		mercifully deem worthy and accept
laudes preces que sumere.		praises and prayers from Your supplicants.
Qui carne quondam contegi		Who once was clothed in the flesh
dignatus es pro perditis.		for those who are lost.
Nos membra confer effici,		Allow us to become members of
tui beati corporis.		Your holy body.

For the love of music and the glory of God,
Rebekah