O Nata Lux!

“Holy Radiant Light” by Alexandre Gretchaninoff. Alas, the recording of the piece sung by a Russian choir with Russian basses has been taken down.

Holy, Radiant Light Alexandre Gretchaninov (1864–1956) ed. Noble Cain

G. Schirmer, Inc., 8081

Holy, radiant Light,

thou holy radiance of the Father,

glorious and mighty,

thou only begotten Son of God eternal, holy Jesu.

Come we, now, to the hour of setting sun;

the lights of evening ’round us shine;

Holy, o holy ones, Holy trinity eternal,

we sing thy praise, evermore we sing thy praise,

Holy trinity. o holy!

With undefiled lips evermore

thy glory to be praised,

Worthy art thou to be praised evermore.

Holy Son of God, source of ev’ry life,

now all the world doth praise thee,

evermore praise thee, thou Son of God

Holy, radiant Light, praise

thee now and evermore.

And a far more modern setting.* I have sung both, and lean a little toward Victoria’s setting. But both are beautiful descriptions of the “Great Mystery” of the birth of Jesus.

And from Lauridsen’s cantata O Nata Lux, the third movement, “O Nata Lux,” O birth of the Light of lights.

“And the Darkness overcame it not.”

I wish you and yours a wonder-full Christmas with moments of true peace and joy.

*This may be the single best performance of “O Magnum Mysterium” I have ever heard.

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