O nata lux by Julian David Bryson, The Voices of Jacksonville, Darren Dailey, director

O nata lux
Julian David Bryson, composer
The Voices of Jacksonville
Darren Dailey, director
To order scores, visit musicspoke.com/downloads/o-na...
Recorded at the Jacksonville Children's Chorus Headquarters by Jason Perry
Recording project funded by an Art Ventures grant from the Community Foundation for Northeast Florida
O nata lux de lumine,
O Light born of Light,
Jesu redemptor saeculi,
Jesus, redeemer of the world,
Dignare clemens supplicum
with loving-kindness deign to receive
Laudes precesque sumere.
suppliant praise and prayer.
Qui carne quondam contegi
Thou who once deigned to be clothed in flesh
Dignatus es pro perditis,
for the sake of the lost,
Nos membra confer effici
grant us to be members
Tui beati corporis.
of thy blessed body.
On September 12, 2001, members of the University of Tennessee Concert Choir walked into our choir room in a state of shock. Reeling from the previous day’s attacks, none of us really wanted to rehearse, but somehow we knew it was exactly where we needed to be.
After warm-ups, we sang Morten Lauridsen’s setting of this text, which we had just begun to learn. Suddenly, the music took on a new meaning and ushered in a memorable hour of sharing, crying, and healing. Something about the line, “for the sake of the lost ones” stuck with me, and over the next several days, I developed my own musical response to both the tragedy and text that had invaded my life.
I am humbled by so many beautiful settings of this prayer and in some ways feel ill-equipped to offer yet one more. However, I continue to count it among my favorite compositions.
-J.D.B.
Cover image "Tabula rasa" taken by the composer at Clingman’s Dome, TN, March, 2008.

[@ariel2759]

💗