Yesterday we drove downtown to listen to Music and the Spoken Word live. We lucked out and caught a week when the Orchestra at Temple Square was part of the program, as well as a visiting choir from Estonia (The Alumnae Choir of Tallinn University of Technology, I believe). It was an excellent program all around, but one piece in particular stood out; The Ground, from the Sunrise Mass by Ola Gjeilo, a Norwegian composer. The Tabernacle Choir are several weeks behind on getting up their broadcasts on video, so instead I’ll give you the UBC University Singers’ performance of the piece. Apologies in advance for the few moments when the levels get overwhelmed, but this is the video that comes closest to capturing the sheer majesty of the piece as I heard it yesterday.
Lyrics and translation:
Pleni sunt caeli et terra gloria tua. Osana in excelsis. Benedictus qui venit in nomine Domina. Benedictus qui venit. Osana in excelsis. Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi. Dona nobis pacem.
Heaven and earth are full of your glory. Hosanna in the highest. Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord. Blessed is he who comes. Hosanna in the highest. Lamb of God, Who take away the sins of the world. Grant us peace.