MORTEN
LAURIDSEN
O Magnum Mysterium for String Orchestra
Transcribed by Sandra Dackow Full Score •
O Magnum Mysterium O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentum in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia!
O great mystery, and wondrous sacrament, that animals should see the newborn Lord, lying in their manger! Blessed is the Virgin whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Jesus Christ. Alleluia! - translation © by earthsongs; Reprinted by permission
For centuries, composers have been inspired by the beautiful O Magnum Mysterium text depicting the birth of the newborn King amongst the lowly animals and shepherds. This affirmation of God’s grace to the meek and the adoration of the Blessed Virgin are celebrated in my setting through a quiet song of profound inner joy. The original choral version of Magnum Mysterium was commissioned by Marshall Rutter in honor of his wife, Terry Knowles, and premiered December 18, 1994 by the Los Angeles Master Chorale, conducted by Paul Salamunovich, at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles. I am grateful to Sandra Dackow for her elegant and faithful string orchestra transcription. —Morten Lauridsen
The music of Morten Lauridsen, Distinguished Professor of Composition at the University of Southern California Thornton School of Music, occupies a permanent place in the standard vocal repertoire of the Twenty-First Century. He was Composer-in-Residence of the Los Angeles Master Chorale from 1994-2001 and Honorary Artistic President of INTERKULTUR/World Choir Games. His works, including eight vocal cycles and a series of sacred motets, are regularly performed throughout the world and have been recorded on over 200 CDs, several of which have received Grammy nominations. An award-winning documentary by filmmaker Michael Stillwater, Shining Night: A Portrait of Composer Morten Lauridsen, was released in 2012. Information about the film is at songwithoutborders.net. Named an “American Choral Master” by the National Endowment for the Arts in 2005, he was awarded the 2007 National Medal of Arts, the highest artistic award in the United States, by the President in a White House ceremony “for his composition of radiant choral works combining musical beauty, power, and spiritual depth.”
For more about Morten Lauridsen: www.peermusicClassical.com and www.mortenlauridsen.net
Sandra Dackow, a native of New Jersey, holds three degrees from the Eastman School of Music. Currently Music Director of the Hershey Symphony Orchestra in Pennsylvania, she has also served on the faculty of Brandeis University and Slippery Rock University. A former school band and orchestra director as well as music administrator, Dr. Dackow is active as a conductor of both professional and student groups and has presented workshops for teachers throughout the United States, Canada, Ireland, and Australia; other appearances have included performances and workshops in Ukraine, England, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa and other countries in eastern Europe. Sandra Dackow is recognized for her work as an arranger, which includes over seventy publications for student orchestras. She currently serves as President-elect of the Conductors Guild, an international organization drawing members from thirtyone countries.
0 Magnutn Mysteriutn Morten Lauridsen trans. Sandra Dackow
rit.
Adagio, molto legato ed espressivo div.
-
Violin I
' u_,,
' .,
H
~
"
~
l""I I
I
I,,,--
I
- -
'-.J
~
-
pp
,, u_,,
-
.,_ .,
Violin II
(unis)
•.•. ..l""I
.,, I
•.•.
~
" "
l""I
~
~
-----
--
-
-
-
I
~
£J
.. -l""I.,.. l
Viola
I
-
-u
-
-
~
,.
~
l""I
-
....
-
-
-----
pp
v•
II
I
- -•
--
-
--
div. ,_
V
I
I
l""I
-. pp~
:
V
-
,
u
I':',
V
l""I
-
-
-~
V
I':',
V
I':',
II
-
l""I I
/;
-- - --, i l""I
. .
l""I
I
I
- -
~
Violoncello
--•
,.
-IL
-W-
----
r
" ~ "
l""I
I
pp
.... - •.
.,
Contrabass
~'
,
~
-
-
~
-- - -
-'-------
II
II
I':',
-
-
"
a tempo 5.,, ' u
- -
Vn.I
l""I
-
'
~
l""I
-
,,
-~
pp
.. .,..
Va.
I
V
l""I I
-
I
-
-
-
-
-
"
-:
l""I~
- - ""'-
I
.. -
. .I
-
-
I
- --
-
-
-
5"
..... --
l""I
::
4: \I
l""I
.... ----
l""I
•
u
......
-
::
V
..
-
-
p
-
.... H
--- -- -V- ~~ ...... I I
,
,_
'
(PP)
--
on,
--
--
..
V
--
l""I
--
V
-,,
pp ,_
V
~
l""I
Cb.
-
V
l""I
pp
Ve.
I
(PP)
u - u
.,
I
pp
'I
Vn. II
- - -
~
--
(PP)
-
-
-
Copyright© 2006, Songs of Peer, Ltd. International Copyright Secured. Printed in U.S.A. All Rights Reserved
-
......
....
u
2
(div.) r-,
9
-·- - .... -
r"I
u
I
., fl
Vn.I
1,1
-
n~
-
/
.,
r
-
V -
~
r-,~
'
- ..
~
I
V -
•. -·j ~ J-
- --
~
... -· - ......- - -I~ 1,1
Vn. II
VI
I
-
r
' " t..
Va. (div.)
-
.. -· .... .. -1-·
' r-,
-... .. - ...... -
' r-, ,
....
Ll
•-
••
r
-
.r
-....
Cb.
I,-
-
~
V
-
~
I
1-
' r
r-, ~
-
...
~I
-
~
' V -
I
r-,
•.-:;
I
- -
-
,._, mfr-, ~
..-•.
- -
- '
r-, I
V
-
--
-
-
I
V
-
.,
j
Vn.I
'
i.
' V
~ -
fL
fL
-
~
~
'
'
t,l
-
~
I
I
,.V
V
-·
r
V
-0-·
~
--
,~
mf
-,, ,,
-
-
-mp
V
V
' V
-
-
V
r-,
•. ,~ ,..
fL
~
p
~
I
I
'
V
~
-
-
~/
rit. 13 _, ~
V
v~I
mf
-
-
9
-
p
- ......
"'
I
r,
'-
Ve.
V
I
-
mf~ ,v I
~
p
~
~
r-,
u
~
,,
p ' r-,I
(unis.)
--
-
-
~
a tempo
.
r"I
I
--
-
~
-
-
~
.. ; -
unis.
- - I~
Vn. II
1,1
,
t)
Va.
-~, I
.... .... ·--...
i..a•
Ve.
r-, ,.
'
r-,
- ~·
-
~
'
V
• mp
'
r-,
V
r-,
..
-
V
V
r-,
V
-------
~=
,
u•
V
r-,
--
-
-
~-
-
-
~
V
V
r-, '
mp V
' --
~-
~
------
r.-•
-
-
mp
.. -
-...
Cb. "'
13
.. r"I
-
.
-
mp
~-
~
,.V
I':",
..
-
I':",
-
~
I':",
.. . r"I
(~)•
p~
' r-,
--
I
-
' r-,
-
~
--
p~
'
r-,
p
.. '..~
I':",
p
3
[[] Poco piu mosso 17
.., fl
J,j
JI
..
V
Vn. I
-~.....
____,•
u fl _,
-~- -
Vn. II
J,j
u
Va.
'"
"".
-
... -
Ve.
..
I':',
-
r-,
II
-
-
~
I
...._.,
V
r-,
I':',
•
u
u
r-,
I':',
V
-
-
;•
'---'
~-
I
-
-
~
-
r-,
II
- --
-
•
p~
~
r-,
II
--
-
~
-
-
~
~
-
~
p
r-,
V
-
I
p
.: u• '-'
"". .,_ .,~
r-,
V
I':',
I
I
r
-
r-,
II
I
--
r
I
I
- -
r,;
p
.-
Cb.
r-,
V
,_
•
r; •
I':', -0-
-0-
II
-
I
-
"'
17
poco rit. 21 _,
Vn. I
- ··I~
J,j
@_
- -
--------
I
J,j
.....
-
-
.,
u
..
.,
..
Ve.
I
Cb.
I
",_
~- -
r-,
I
-
..-
..
(save bow)
- ...
."' 21
~
r-,
I
(save bow)
r~
@_
Va.
VI
I ~
r-, - . ,~
Vn. II
r-,
(div.) V
r-, I
V
r-,
-
-~--
V
r-,
~
·--
----- --
'
~
-
~
--
r-,
-
r-,
-
.....
- I
'
I
-
-
r
-~ r-, ,,,---
.:
I
(div.)
--
~
V
--
' --r-,
V
- -r ------(save bow)
a tempo
r-,
(div.)
~ ~
...,
-
-
""
~
I
I
.....
.....
-- --
~
r
-
-
-
¥
-
-
~
4
Vn.I
Vn. II (div.)
Va.
Ve.
Cb.
Vn.I
Vn. II (div.)
Va.
Ve.
Cb.
5
rit. 33 Vn. I
I~
.i,I
_ ._ @_)
,....
.-
:I
Vn. II
..
Va.
~
"
I
I
- -'----------
-
-___/
.- - - -__, - - - -
.. -
r"I t:'I
~
~
r
... -
-
Cb.
-
-
,....-
~
~--
,....
""
-
~
~
:"
--
- -
-
-
~--
--
-
'V ~
~
•• ..
-
-
~
~
V
I
-
(r"I)
-
~
(r"I)
I
- - --
...••.
(r"I)
..-1
-
...... -
I
- - -
V
'V
~
~
--
-.. ••
~
~
~
p r"I t:'I
•
,9
'V
VI
I
~
~
-
~
-
~
......
(r"I)
-
~
/
---
,
V
..••
-
.... "
I,.....,,_
V
-
-
r"I
r"I U
pp '-
Cb.
I
38
'
•• A.W.
I
I
I
'
'
V
pp
Ve.
I
V
r"II
I
I
--
,....
,....
.....
I
I
I
..... - .... ••
-
.,V
r"I ....,
-
I
'
r"I
-
....,
-
V
r"I
pp
.. ..
lk#
I
I
_.
@_I
,,
r"I
r"I
I
pp
Vn. II
poco rit.
Tempo primo I
Va.
-
I
=====-p
[fil Vn. I
p
-
33
~
----
(~)•
-
~
t-11.•
-
I
V
p
I
-
--
'V
-- --
-
r"I t:'I
- - -
'
'V
V
p
--
u
V
- - -
....,
r"I t:'I
..
"
Ve.
I
unis.
.1,1
u
.... .... ' ....
-
-
~
.
V
V
- -
_,
rit.
a tempo
....,
-
_.
V
.... ....,
-
'V
-- - I
r"I
--
I
I
I
'
V
r"I
'
V
r"I
'
....,
-
I
6
a tempo 42 ., '~
Vn. I
l""I
- lo
.,_
l""I
V
I
I
-
-I- -
r
~I
I
I
' V I
-- -
Vn. II
lo
@.)
.. " ··~ ··~ .,
Va.
.. -
Ve.
V
l""I
-" - -/
-~~~= l""I ~
,
-
~
:.
-
/
.. ..
-
~
-
I
,-
~
I
-
,-
I
-
I
,-
,-
•
-
" 42
~
lo
~
V
\I
V
l"'l.-- - --.. ....,.--
-I ' -
lo
-
~
f
- ,~
'
lo
~
-- -. "
V .,,
f
\I
l""I
-
--
•. " .,~ . •. - .... ll
■,~
,
~
\I
.. - - ..f
1""1------
Ve. (div.)
-
~
I
div. ~
-
~
------...
l""I
V
... .
V
V 1~1
l""I
.. - ..•. -~
~
:
l""I
,..-...
-
f
pizz. .... -- •.•. ~
~
I
f
:
-
-
-
I
-
- I- --
-I- --
I
l""I I
-- -- --
I
..,
I
r
V
l""I
--
~
--
l""I
\I
= •
'
~
~
I
~
~
I
-- --
-
-
-
I
I
I
I
-- -- --
,..
'V ,-
,-
,-
I
I
I
I
!
--
--
-
I
-
,-
I
-
~
--
-
-
I
I
- - -
I
I
-
-
V
....
I
I
-
--
I
' V
--
--
.,
'V
I
I
I
--- --- --- ---
-v
\I
l""I_.....--
.. -
--
:
~
-
V ' - -I -I -I
---- -
-
'--......._
I
-,
V
--
I
--
-
I
-,
- -
-,
-,
-I
-I -
-,
'
I
-.
-,
!
I l""I
I
I
'V
\I
I
I
'V
•
l""I
I
I
--
/
I
I
:
-
l""I
l""I
V
r--- I
£..111.•,,,,, I
I
--- - ' V -- - --I
V
.. - -.." --
'
I
- --
f
" 46
-
~
V,_
1-----.._
r
l""I
•
I
I
--
,-
-
r"'
I
--
V (div.)
I
I
r
I
- - -- -I
V
pizz. 1
I
'V
I
I
f
Cb. (div.)
- - -:.
~
f ,~
Va.
-I
•.
I
poco rit.
- ....,.
Vn.I. (div.) '
r
V
div.
~,
pp---==============
[[] a tempo 46 l""I ., ' -·,_ - -.. -
Vn. II
v--1
div.
l""I
l""I
.. -
(div.)
l""I
-- -
I
,-
-
-- - •_____..,.- I- I-
V
'
l""I
-
~
l""I
- - -
I
I
Cb.
V
'
-·
-
--
V
I
-- ' -- -- --
I
l""I~
-
~
V
--
I
I
- - - -
div. fl
I
molto rit. V
'
-,
V
-
-
-I
--
I
I
I
-
--
~
I
I
-
I
7
a tempo
--
V 1""1----------- -V -
50 ,!!_
.1 -4!!.
"'-
J
..1...2
ff
Vn. I (div.) 11-4!!.
-
=
u
n.
l""I
V
.
-
-
...
..I
-
-
' VJ
-....__
-
_i---
l""I ..I
l""I
...J.
-
...J.
-
-
..It
Vn.I I (div. )
V
l""I
l""I
. -...
-
~
u
~
ff
--
Jl -tt
l""I
l""I
~
~
u
u
ff i..
- -= .:: ~~
...
J
J
-. l""I
V
-~ --
-
V
-
-
=
--'-
.
-
-,
~
V•
l""I
-
-===-
l""I
-
-
--
-
-
--
l""I
V
V
~
-.-
•
V ' -- -
JI..
' J -
~
.
I
V
l""I
J
'
I
~
l""I
_,_
-
~
~
l""I
-
-
V
....,_
ff
-u-
V a.
V
V
l""I
-
~
9
l""I ~
.
-
-...,..
ff
·~ ~-~ --·-!;l -
..J.J.
i....:::J
---
-
~
ff
VC. (div.) ~
·--
~
'V
I
J
' J
-
I
J
--
J
j
-- -
~ ~-
.1
-
-
- -
--
l""I
-J
-
I
l
-
~
~
~
r-
J
---
--
-
-
-..,...,-"""'
ff -
:-...
.J..
l""I -
.
-· '
50
I
ff
- -- I
ff
Cb. div.)
_,_ V
::-
=
I
I
-
-
I
I
I
-
-
-.......
I
I
-
~
I
- - I
V
_,_
.1
l""I
=
- ~
I
~
~
-
8
54 ~
'
- -
'
~
J.I
.. ....
,.,
.
~
~
~
~
~
I
t,
-
~I
-
I
V
,.
'
V
-
~
- ~
,.,
- - -.... ··.~
J.I
-
--
~
I
t,
(div.)
- - ....-~=· .~
Vn. II
'
J.I
I
-
r
t,
r I-
.,
VI
I
,.,
V
I
,.
unis., area
,.,
V
-
r
V
,
' V -
-
~
,.,
I
- ' fl-
-
I
-:. -
~
~
- --
r
-
~
~
~
~
J.I
.
-
V
~-
--
~
fl-
,.,
.,
...V
V e·
,n,
,,
~
f ,, ,,
-
-
-
~
~
rit. 58 .~
V
~
f fl-
,.,
- -V
,,
-
,.,
Vn.I
V
' V
-
I
molto rit.
I
.. ..
~
,.
I
,.
- ,. ~
,p
,.,
,., j~
J.I
V
- V
I
Vn. II
,.
,L
~=
..
,v
~-......___
.....-
~
..
..
C,I
-
r.-. 'V ..
V
--
I
Ve.
V
V
Va.
,.,
Cb.
' 58
,.
,.
,.
,.
p
r.-. ' V
--
-~
(i:f)*
,., p
,., ' V
V
VI
--
r.-. 'V
--
,.,
... -
I
I
,.,
-
V
-
~
-
-
-
,.,
,,
V
V
~
I
-
~
~
f ~
I
I
V
-
~
i mp
n
,.,
,. ~
,., I
- - -
r ,.,
- - - -V
~
V ' VI
mp
,.,
- - --
V 'V -
(unis.)
-
~
~-.. - ....
54
,.,
r
- '
--
....
-
~
,.,
I
mp
n
.
~I
I
I
V,~I
~-.. - ....
' -
I
Ve.
- -
~
.,.. ·- ....... .. V-· .. .,.. - -•-·
Va.
V -
V
-:.
f
mp
,.,
,., ,, n. ~
mp
Vn.l (div.)
Cb.
-
V
tutti, area y
•
f
V fr
-p
r.-. • 'V p
- - - .......1
--1
.....I
.......1
9
@] 63 _, I
~
~
·- -
Vn. II
u
Va.
,~
"".
'.::
-
-
'.::
-e
-
-
~
~
>-
-
~
I
-
-
~
V - ..
I ~
-
--
mp
-
-
_,.
~
-
-
••
I
~
mp
---'-J-
..V -
-
--
~
i-,
V
.. - ..-
I
.,
-
i-,
Ve.
-
V
I
mp
(div.) t....w.•
I
,
V
i-, ,t
~
u
-e
"". ,~
V
I
.s...i
~
~)
.
-
~I
,~
a tempo i-,
··-
Vn. I
poco rit.
a tempo
-
i-,
r~
,~ I ~
- ~ 1
..
-V ..-,_ I
i-,
--
mp
.. -
Cb.
I
"
i-,
V
..
--
i-, I
-
63
68
Vn. I
i-,
-
••
~
-
-
~
mp
molto rit. .,
~
V
-·- - -. . f\
J.i,
i-,
V
..
-
~
u
meno mosso
V
V
V
I:\
.
4
-e
I:\
I:\
;t
-e
I:\
I:\
i-,
Vn. II
t,
~
_,JI
..
,,..
V
--
u
u
(.,I
~
-d
i-,
Va.
.... .... - ..
t....
Ve.
Cb.
••
I
68
..
l
-
-
~
~
-
- ..--
_,
i-,,--.:...
..
'.::
I
.. -
~
V
-
~
-
r
~
I
i-,
V
I
I
-' -,
-' -,
'
'
I:\
--
V
V
i-,
r
r
~
~
I:\
-
i-,
I:\
..-
-
-
~
V
--
-
~
u
i-,
V
I:\
-u
--
I
-
~