O Magnum Mysterium

Using the name of the dedicatee for the basic musical kernel (sol, fi, me), Kingsbury has crafted a small gem. The augmented second of the motive generates the word painting on _x001C_ mysterium,_x001D_ where a descending melodic augmented second is harmonized by a major triad leading to a minor triad a half step higher; despite the harmonic novelty, the part writing is always clear. The SATB chorus is accompanied by a single instrument, the English horn, whose plaintive tone evokes the lowing of the cattle around the manger.