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O Magnum Mysterium is a somewhat modern setting of the traditional Latin text celebrating the Nativity. The oldest work on my recital, this piece was written near the beginning of my study at Westminster, tying together two significant choral experiences from high school. In eleventh grade, I performed Morten Lauridsen’s Sure on this Shining Night with my homeschool choir. This was one of my earliest exposures to the world of modern American choral music, and I fell in love with some of the sounds and harmonies Lauridsen was using. Although not using the same harmonic approach common in his writing, my intention when composing this work was to capture some of those same sounds. A few weeks later, my choir attended the Westminster Choir homecoming concert, and I heard the ‘Westminster’ sound for the first time. Together, those events formed the earliest ideas of this Lauridsen-esque setting.

Once I made the decision to attend Westminster, I knew this piece had to be the opening of my senior composition recital. But Westminster wasn’t done shaping this opening until Readings and Carols my sophomore year. Although I had seen pictures of Chapel Choir performing up in the Princeton University Chapel balcony from my freshman year, I didn’t get the full effect of a candlelit choir in a darkened chapel until I rehearsed the processional the next year. As soon as I saw the flickering candlelight coming from the back of the chapel, I knew I needed to open my composition recital the same way.

lyrics

O magnum mysterium,
et admirabile sacramentum,
ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
jacentem 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
Christ the Lord.
Alleluia!

credits

from The Senior Composition Recital of David Grossman, released June 27, 2019
David Grossman - conductor
Soprano - MéLia Boykin, Valerie Dzielski, Destiny Elazier, Abigail Merk, Sophia Santiago
Alto - Michelle Palladino, Deanna Sorge, Lydia Stepanoff, Lauren Tannen
Tenor - Noah Bram, William Landis, Sean Reilly
Bass - James Harris, Bennett Spotts, Alex Thomlinson

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David Lee Grossman Charleston, South Carolina

Inspired from a young age by Mozart to write music, and more recently John Williams to write soundtrack music, David Grossman began composing in 7th grade and already has a diverse portfolio encompassing many genres from baroque and classical to jazz to choral and vocal music. He is a graduate of Westminster Choir College (BM, Music Composition) and the Seattle Film Institute (MM, Film Music) ... more

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