Set in a full, eight-part "divisi," "a cappella" rendition, this lush and expressive piece by Rene Clausen will leave listeners with chills. With all voices beginning on a unison middle C and expanding polyphonically to a homophonic forte for the words "Magnum" (great) and then gradually moving back to a "pianissimo" for "Mysterium" (mystery), this setting of the familiar Christmas text is sure to become a standard next to those by Byrd and Lauridsen.
