Pärt - Seven Magnificat Antiphons (1988/1991)
The “Great O Antiphons” are short lines that are sung alongside the Magnificat during evening prayers each night on the week leading up to Christmas. Starting on the 17th, and going until the 23rd. Here, Pärt takes the antiphons and puts them together in a short collection of poignant choral works full of his gorgeous spaciousness, subtle dissonances, and calling back to medieval orthodox music while also writing something that sounds fresh and new. During this night, the observation of Christ’s birth, there are people who are comfortably sleeping in their beds, excited for tomorrows fun, and there are people who have nowhere to sleep but the streets. We don’t like to think about the suffering in the world on this holiday, because the department stores want us to feel happy through buying their stuff. But most of us know that’s an illusion, and a distraction. It is shameful to me that Christmas is treated so shallow in our culture, that becomes another faux antidepressant “everything is awesome!” insistence when we know that isn’t true. No matter what your situation is, I hope you are healthy, and that you are at peace, and that someone will extend love to you. If it helps, I love you.
Movements:
1. O Wisdom
2. O Adonai
3. O Root of Jesse
4. O Key of David
5. O Dayspring
6. O King of the Nations
7. O Emmanuel
