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

Pilgrim's Hymn by Stephen Paulus | Choral Music

I've decided to start a new series of blog posts about choral music!

Mostly because I've recently discovered that I'm a choral music nerd.

It kinda goes along with the a capella obsession thing.

This first piece of music is one that my church choir performed back in October. After our director told us about it, he played a recording of it on his phone. It was really quiet, and you could hear a pin drop as we listened in awed silence because of how absolutely gorgeous this music is. We were so excited to learn it.

The contemporary composer Stephen Paulus wrote this piece, interestingly enough, for one of his operas called "The Three Hermits". The lyrics were written by Michael Dennis Browne and are as breathtakingly beautiful as the music itself.

Here is a video of the University of Wisconsin - Eau Claire choir performing Pilgrim's Hymn in the Milwaukee Art Museum:

Even before we call on Your name

To ask You, O God

When we seek for the words to glorify You

You hear our prayer

Unceasing love, O unceasing love

Surpassing all we know

Glory to the Father

And to the Son

And to the Holy Spirit

Even with darkness sealing us in

We breathe Your name

And through all the days that follow so fast

We trust in You

Endless Your grace, O endless Your grace

Beyond all mortal dream

Both now and forever

And unto ages and ages

Amen

For the love of music and the glory of God,

Rebekah

[You can order the music here.]

Stories & Songs - Christmas Edition! | BYU Vocal Point

So...y'all remember a series of Christmas Edition Stories & Songs posts from last year? {Here they are}

I haven't happened upon a lot of new Christmas music since then, but I have become a big fan of BYU Vocal Point...and they sing some really wonderful arrangements of Christmas songs. If you like a capella music, and you like Christmas, you'll enjoy these videos:

Infant Holy, Infant Lowly

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

God Rest, Ye Merry Gentlemen

12 Days of Christmas

I'm Gettin' Nuttin' for Christmas

For the love of music, and in celebration of the birth of our Savior!

Rebekah

Stories & Songs | Sam Robson - I Need Thee Every Hour

I never hear this hymn without thinking of a funny story about it:

Years ago, my sister, Sarah, and I read a book called "Wings of Gold" by Lance Patterson. It's based on his own experiences going through Officer Candidate School in the Marine Corps. He didn't hide from his drill instructors the fact that he is a Christian, and while they thought of him as a religious fanatic, they left him alone for the most part. One day he was running through an obstacle course, made particularly difficult because of a recent knee injury, so he started singing this hymn. A couple hours later, he was enjoying a nice hot shower when one of the other recruits started frantically telling him that his drill instructor wanted him in his office...pronto. Mr. Patterson wrapped himself in a towel, dripping wet, and went to the DI's office, thinking he was in trouble for something. Needless to say, he was quite surprised when the DI asked him to sing that song he was singing earlier that morning on the obstacle course. So he stood there, still dripping wet, in front of the DI and the rest of the people in the office...and sang this hymn. :)

I'm not sure how I stumbled upon Sam Robson's wonderful arrangement and recording of I Need Thee Every Hour, but I have greatly enjoyed listening to it over the last year or so. Sam does a fantastic job singing multi-part a capella hymns - check out his Youtube channel for more!

I need Thee every hour

Most gracious LORD

No tender voice like Thine

Can peace afford

I need Thee, oh, I need Thee

Every hour I need Thee

Oh, bless me now, my Savior

I come to Thee

I need Thee every hour

Stay Thou nearby

Temptations lose their power

When Thou art nigh

I need Thee every hour

In joy or pain

Come quickly and abide

Or life is in vain

I need Thee every hour

Most Holy One

Oh, make me Thine, indeed

Thou blessed Son

For the love of music and the glory of God,

Rebekah

PS - If you enjoyed Sam's arrangement, you might enjoy Vocal Point's, too. :)