O magnum mysterium, |
O great mystery |
et admirabile sacramentum, |
and wonderful sacrament |
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, |
that even the animals saw the new-born Lord |
jacentem in praesepio! |
lying in a manger. |
Beata Virgo, cujus viscera |
Blessed is the Virgin whose womb |
meruerunt portare |
was worthy to bear |
Dominum Christum. |
Christ the Lord. |
Alleluia. |
Alleluia. |
A New Song
James MacMillan( b. 1959)
Programme notes by Heath Lees
James MacMillan( make that, as of this year, Sir James MacMillan) is one of today’ s most-performed composers— a condition much aided by his huge gifts as a conductor. His agents, Intermusica, describe his musical language as“ flooded with influences from his Scottish heritage, Catholic faith, social conscience and close connection with Celtic folk music, blended with influences from Far Eastern, Scandinavian and Eastern European music.”
It’ s the Scottish heritage that comes uppermost in A New Song, which he composed in 1997, partly as a commission for a church in Glasgow, and partly to celebrate his father’ s 70th birthday. The piece lasts for about six minutes.
Unlike Chris Artley’ s language of full chords and smooth progressions, MacMillan weaves a contrapuntal tapestry out of wiry melodies that glory in the grace-note decorations of bagpipe music( even with some bass drones), and alternate with ancient tunes that seem to blend Gregorian chant with far-away Highland folk melody. At the end, the organ contributions flower out into a majestic postlude.
Copyright © Heath Lees 2016
O sing unto the Lord a new song Sing unto the Lord, all the whole earth. Sing unto the Lord, and praise His Name Be telling of His salvation from day to day. For He cometh, for He cometh to judge the earth And with righteousness to judge the world, and the people with His truth.
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