The music of New York City based composer and pianist Ola Gjeilo has been performed and recorded in more than 25 countries worldwide in venues such as New York’s Carnegie Hall and Alice Tully Hall, Miami’s Knight Concert Hall and Jackie Gleason Theatre, and the National Galleries in London and Washington DC. His publishers include Walton Music, Oxford University Press and Musikk-Huset. Walton Music is the exclusive publisher of Gjeilo’s music for choir.
Ola’s first solo piano CD, Stone Rose, was released in October, 2007 on the Grammy® nominated label 2L, and is available in stores worldwide as well as on amazon.com and iTunes. The album is filled with his own lyrical music in the crossroads between classical and jazz, sometimes also joined by cello, violin and flugelhorn.
Gjeilo has written music for several short films and for television, now channeled through his media music company, Nordic Screen Music, which he co-owns with composer Asmund Skuterud.. Ola’s music has been featured on PBS in America, on the Swedish and Danish Broadcast Corporations and on all the major Norwegian TV channels as well as several radio stations.
He has been commissioned by several ensembles and musicians worldwide, including American soprano Barbara Bonney (New England Songs, 2005), Ensemble Mendelssohn, Chamber Orchestra of the South Bay, Philip Brunelle, Musikk-Huset Publishing House, St. Olaf Manitou Singers, and Voces Nordicae. His choral music has also been performed by other elite choirs such as Kansas City Chorale, Phoenix Bach Choir, World Youth Choir, VocalEssence, Norwegian Soloists’ Choir, and the Swedish Radiokören.
Serenity
Ola Gjeilo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Et admirabile sacramentum.
Ut animalia viderent
Dominum natum, iacentem in
Praesepio: Beata Virgo,
Cujus viscera meruerunt portare
Dominum Christum
Alleluia
The lyrics to Ola Gjeilo's song "Serenity" are taken from the ancient Latin text known as the "O magnum mysterium." This text is often used in Christian liturgy and focuses on the wonder and awe surrounding the birth of Jesus.
The song begins with the phrase "O magnum mysterium" which translates to "O great mystery." It highlights the profound and mysterious nature of the birth of Jesus, emphasizing the miraculous event that has taken place. The following line, "Et admirabile sacramentum," expresses the awe and reverence associated with this sacred mystery.
The lyrics continue to describe how even the animals were able to witness the newborn Lord lying in the manger, indicating the universal significance and inclusiveness of this divine event. The Blessed Virgin Mary is mentioned, acknowledging her role in carrying and giving birth to the Lord. This recognition of her sanctity and honor is portrayed through the line "Cujus viscera meruerunt portare," meaning "Whose womb was worthy to bear."
Overall, these lyrics beautifully capture the spiritual and transcendent nature of the miraculous birth of Jesus, encompassing themes of mystery, wonder, and devotion.
Line by Line Meaning
O magnum mysterium
Oh great mystery
Et admirabile sacramentum
And wondrous sacrament
Ut animalia viderent
That animals might see
Dominum natum, iacentem in
The Lord newborn, lying in
Praesepio: Beata Virgo
A manger: Blessed Virgin
Cujus viscera meruerunt portare
Whose womb was worthy to carry
Dominum Christum Alleluia
The Lord Christ. Hallelujah
Writer(s): Ola Gjeilo
Contributed by Leah Y. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@vasaricorridor7989
For all men were by nature foolish
who were in ignorance of God,
and who from the good things seen
did not succeed in knowing him who is,
and from studying the works
did not discern the artisan;
But either fire, or wind, or the swift air,
the governors of the world, they considered gods.
Now if out of joy in their beauty they thought them gods,
let them know how far more excellent is the lord than these;
for the original source of beauty fashioned them.
Or if they were struck by their might and energy.
let them from these things realize
how much more powerful is he who made them.
For from the greatness and the beauty of created things
their original author, by analogy, is seen
But yet, for these the blame is less;
For they indeed have gone astray perhaps,
though they seek God and wish to find him.
For they search busily among his works,
but are distracted by what they see,
because the things seen are fair.
But again, not even these are pardonable.
For if they so far succeeded in knowledge
that they could speculate about the world,
how did they not more quickly find its Lord?
Jesus O Savior
I know not if you are real
Come Come live in me ..
Save me !
Amen and Amen .............
Revelations
The Spirit and the bride say. "Come."
Let the hearer say, "Come."
Let the one who thirsts come forward,
and the one who wants
receive the gift of life giving water.
@obeatatrinitas
+
C'est très beau, un grand merci!
O grand mystère,
et admirable sacrement,
que des animaux voient leur Seigneur nouveau-né,
couché dans une mangeoire!
Heureuse Vierge,
dont le sein a mérité de porter le Christ Seigneur.
Alleluia!
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/O_magnum_mysterium
@corlisscrabtree3647
Thank you 🙏
@Cebelciclimad
We need, all, listen this kind of music.
Is kindful for our souls.
@edwinearl7710
WE are experiencing a genius of our generation, just like Handel or Bach, Ola is giving us music that transcends our life !
@Lwhite1962
The most beautiful O Magnum Mysterium ever composed by far.
@stevewfreeman
ikväll hörde jag detta vackra och fridfulla musikstycke för första gången. jag kommer att lyssna på det många gånger
@tiborkam
I can't really put my appreciation for Ole Gjeilo's oeuvre into words. But frankly, this is possibly the most moving piece he has written until now. Uplifting, quieting, comforting.
@josephososkie3029
maybe in a longer, ode-ish kind of way. there's needed room for that of course. But my vote goes to Sacred Heart as the most hopeful, moving piece.
@yvarra27
A glimpse of celestial beauty.
@jedegroot6533
This is an absolute top performance, that can compete with the most famous choirs wordwide . Very very well done!!!! so full of devotion... so serene...
@bernardnoname3853
Magnifique interprétation, quelle harmonie entre chœur et violoncelle, bravo!