We sang Morten Lauridsen's rendition of 'O Magnum Mysterium' for 9pm mass at the University of Washington Newman Center on Christmas 2011.  I had so much fun tackling Soprano I/II with Krysta Yousoufian, and everyone did such a wonderful job bringing it all together in a short amount of time. Thanks to Michael Lam for directing. It was a real privilege to get inside of this gorgeous piece of music! 

Latin text

    O magnum mysterium,
    et admirabile sacramentum,
    ut animalia viderent Dominum natum,
    jacentem in praesepio!
    Beata Virgo, cujus viscera
    meruerunt portare
    Dominum Christum.
    Alleluia.

English translation

    O great mystery,
    and wonderful sacrament,
    that animals should see the new-born Lord,
    lying in a manger!
    Blessed is the Virgin whose womb
    was worthy to bear
    Christ the Lord.
    Alleluia! 




O Magnum Mysterium - 9pm Choir

Sicut cervus desiderat ad fontes aquarum,
Ita desiderat anima mea ad te deus.

"Like as the hart desireth the waterbrooks,
So longeth my soul after thee, O God."

(informal phone-recording of the 9pm choir singing Sicut Cervus at the UW Newman Center in Seattle WA, May 2012.)

Sicut cervus

Belting out a version of this classic with some friends at Emerald City Guitars back in 2006. Greg Roberts and Garrett Smith on guitar, analog recording by Eric Daw.

Cheuffer Blues

Michael Shelby Edwards, an artist from Seattle, describes the shape of her faith journey to Catholicism to a group of Catholic young adults at 'Spirit and Truth', a ministry of Holy Family Parish,  Kirkland, Washington, February 1st, 2013.

In My Father's House

Here's a little Celtic story-ballad for the season. Through it's various versions and permutations, this weirdly familiar narrative of unrequited love has haunted me since I was a kid. It always comes back to me around this time of year. Figured it was time to give it my own telling. Enjoy!