Magnificat
Choir of Merton College Oxford & Benjamin Nicholas Lyrics
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and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my
Saviour.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his
handmaiden.
For behold, from henceforth all generations
shall call me blessed.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me,
And his mercy is on them that fear him
throughout all generations.
He hath shewed strength with his arm:
he hath scattered the proud in the
imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from
their seat:
and hath exalted the humble and meek. He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his
servant Israel:
as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham
and his seed for ever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to
the Holy Ghost.
As it was in the beginning, is now,
and ever shall be:
world without end. Amen.
The lyrics to "Magnificat" are derived from the biblical passage known as the Magnificat, found in the Gospel of Luke. This song is a hymn of praise and gratitude, often attributed to Mary, the mother of Jesus. It expresses her joy and gratitude for the blessings and mercy that God has bestowed upon her.
The song begins by acknowledging the magnification of the Lord by the singer's soul and the rejoicing of their spirit in God, their Savior. The singer reflects on the fact that God has regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden, indicating Mary's humility and her acceptance of her role as God's servant. It is also mentioned that all generations will call her blessed, recognizing the significance of her role in God's plan.
The lyrics proceed to describe the attributes of God, emphasizing his might and holiness. His mercy is said to extend to all those who fear him throughout generations. The song continues with the imagery of God's strength, as he scatters the proud and lifts up the humble. It speaks of God's ability to bring down the powerful and elevate the meek. Additionally, there is a contrast drawn between the way God provides for the hungry, filling them with good things, and how he treats the rich, sending them away empty.
The song concludes with a reference to God's mercy towards his servant Israel, specifically referencing the promise made to Abraham and his descendants. The final lines express praise and glory to the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost, acknowledging their eternal nature.
Overall, "Magnificat" is a hymn that celebrates God's mercy, power, and faithfulness, while also highlighting the humble and obedient nature of Mary.
Line by Line Meaning
My soul doth magnify the Lord:
I am filled with awe and admiration for the greatness and goodness of the Lord:
and my spirit hath rejoiced in God my Saviour.
and my inner being overflows with joy and gratitude because God is my Savior.
For he hath regarded the lowliness of his handmaiden.
For he has taken notice of and shown kindness to his humble servant.
For behold, from henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For from this moment on, people of all future generations will recognize and speak of the blessings upon me.
For he that is mighty hath magnified me, and holy is his name.
For the Almighty One has lifted me up and made me great, and his name is holy.
And his mercy is on them that fear him throughout all generations.
And his compassion extends to those who revere and worship him in every age.
He hath shewed strength with his arm: he hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He has demonstrated his power with his mighty arm, dispersing the arrogant and proud thoughts of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat: and hath exalted the humble and meek.
He has brought down from their positions of power those who considered themselves great, and has lifted up the lowly and gentle.
He hath filled the hungry with good things: and the rich he hath sent empty away.
He has satisfied the hunger of the needy with abundance, while those who are rich and self-satisfied, he has left empty-handed.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel: as he promised to our forefathers, Abraham and his seed for ever.
In remembrance of his mercy, he has come to the aid of his servant Israel, fulfilling the promise he made to our ancestors, Abraham and his descendants, forever.
Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost.
Let us give glory to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Spirit.
As it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be: world without end. Amen.
Just as it was in the beginning, is now, and will continue to be forever: without end. Amen.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: George Dyson
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
Elbert Besaris
First time hearing this piece in an orchestral version, and what a delightful full sound it is, such a great rendition!
Delphian Records
Isn't it incredible
me nene
I honestly didn't think I could love this gorgeous piece any more than I already did. Wow! This is something else. Love the orchestration; very sensitively done by a skilled hand. All beautifully balanced; lovely sound; thank you!!
Delphian Records
What a beautiful response - thank you, and so glad you're enjoying!
Lance Phillip
Glorious orchestration & performance
Cameron McGehee
This has got to be the most microphones I've ever seen put on an orchestra! What was the philosophy of mic placement for this?
Delphian Records
No Philosophy apart from achieving the best possible replication of each sound - we'd have happily used twice as many 🥰