As we enter the season of Advent, looking forward to Christmas, we offer our recording of ‘O Magnum Mysterium’, the first of Francis Poulenc’s ‘Quatre Motets Pour Le Temps de Noël’.

Latin text:

‘O magnum mysterium, et admirabile sacramentum, ut animalia viderent Dominum natum, jacentem in praesepio! Beata Virgo, cujus viscera meruerunt portare Dominum Christum. Alleluia!’

English translation:

‘O great mystery and marvellous sacrament, that the animals should see the new-born Lord, lying in the crib! Blessed Virgin, whose womb was worthy to bear the Lord Christ. Alleluia!‘

The Nativity figures featured in the video montage were made in the workshops of the Monastery of Notre-Dame de Pitié, Mougères, France and were photographed in St Mary’s parish church in Twickenham.

To play the video, click on the black box below!