O Mysterium
Double Choir (4 Part Mixed)
Not growing up as a Christian, I’ve felt conflicted by my attraction to liturgical poetry. I love that Latin is a ‘dead’ language, its non-spoken aspect lends a sense of abstraction and mystery to the words, yet the text remains perfectly understandable. The traditional metaphors around the Nativity are equally compelling. ‘Ocean Star’ and ‘light born of light’ have a transcendent quality that compelled me since I first heard them, but the direct references to a dogma I do not personally follow left me cold. So I’ve appropriated my favorites parts of these texts for my own. The poetry references the most poignant metaphors and images from the Nativity, but removes any direct reference to Jesus or Mary. What remains is a poem in veneration of childbirth’s mystery. I have tried to infuse the text with music that will convey my own feelings towards our life-creating capacity: curiosity, awe, horror, shock, and deep respect.