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.
Unicornis captivatur
Ola Gjeilo Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Aule regum presentatur
Venatorum laqueo
Palo serpens est levatus
Medicatur sauciatus
Veneno vipereo
Alleluia canite
Alleluia pangite
Alleluia promite
Leoni vincenti
Pellicano vulnerato
Vita redit pro peccato
Nece startis misera
Phos fencicis est exusta
Concremanturque vetusta
Macrocosmi scelera
Alleluia canite
Agno morienti
Alleluia pangite
Alleluia promite
Leoni vincenti
Idrus intrat crocodillum
Extis privat, necat illum,
Vivus inde rediens;
Tris diebus dormitavit
Leo, quem resuscitavit
Basileus rugiens
Alleluia canite
Agno morienti
Alleluia pangite
Alleluia promite
Leoni vincenti
The lyrics of Ola Gjeilo's song "Unicornis captivatur" tell a story that combines mythical elements with Christian symbolism. The song begins with the capture of a unicorn, which is presented to the kings in a hall. The unicorn is then raised up on a pole, wounded by venomous snakebites, and healed. The chorus exclaims "Alleluia" and urges the listeners to sing praises to the dying lamb and proclaim the victory of the lion.
The second verse introduces a wounded pelican, whose life is restored as a sacrifice for sins. The miserable deaths of the wicked are consumed by the fire of judgment, symbolized by the burning of ancient evil. Again, the chorus calls for the singing of "Alleluia" and the announcement of victory to the lion.
In the final verse, an old dragon is confronted and killed by a worthy prince who enters its lair. After three days of sleeping, the lion is resurrected and roars. The chorus repeats its call for the singing of "Alleluia" and the proclamation of victory to the lion.
Overall, the lyrics of "Unicornis captivatur" speak of various mythical creatures and their symbolic significance in Christianity. The unicorn represents purity and suffering, the pelican symbolizes self-sacrifice and redemption, and the lion represents power and resurrection.
Line by Line Meaning
Unicornis captivatur
The unicorn is captured
Aule regum presentatur
Presented to the halls of kings
Venatorum laqueo
Caught in the snare of hunters
Palo serpens est levatus
The serpent is lifted on a pole
Medicatur sauciatus
Healing the wounded
Veneno vipereo
From the poisonous venom
Alleluia canite
Sing hallelujah
Agno morienti
To the dying lamb
Alleluia pangite
Proclaim hallelujah
Alleluia promite
Promise hallelujah
Leoni vincenti
To the conquering lion
Pellicano vulnerato
To the wounded pelican
Vita redit pro peccato
Life is restored for sin
Nece startis misera
From a wretched death
Phos fencicis est exusta
The light of the torch is extinguished
Concremanturque vetusta
And the ancient world is consumed
Alleluia canite
Sing hallelujah
Agno morienti
To the dying lamb
Alleluia pangite
Proclaim hallelujah
Alleluia promite
Promise hallelujah
Leoni vincenti
To the conquering lion
Idrus intrat crocodillum
The dragon enters the crocodile
Extis privat, necat illum
Tearing out its innards, killing it
Vivus inde rediens
Returning alive from there
Tris diebus dormitavit
Sleeping for three days
Leo, quem resuscitavit
The lion, whom he resurrected
Basileus rugiens
The roaring king
Alleluia canite
Sing hallelujah
Agno morienti
To the dying lamb
Alleluia pangite
Proclaim hallelujah
Alleluia promite
Promise hallelujah
Leoni vincenti
To the conquering lion
Writer(s): Ola Gjeilo
Contributed by Carson N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@-peyat
0:00 A section, Soprano (unison)
0:22 A section, S+A (all divisi)
0:45 B section, SATB (all divisi)
1:04 A section SATB (w/ some divisi in bass)
1:25 B section SATB (all divisi)
1:45 C section SATB (T+B divisi)
2:20 D section S+A (four part, divisi)
2:53 D section T+B (four part, divisi)
3:16 Cont. of D section, SATB (S divisi)
3:54 E section SATB (all divisi)
4:34 B section (variation) SATB (S+T divisi, A+B get a few notes of divisi near end)
5:10 B section SATB (all divisi)
5:34 finale, SSAATTBB
edit: i'm not sure about if i like the specifications with what parts are present and what parts get divisi, as most of the piece is nearly 8 part harmony.
@fredreindlsecondbreakfast5522
My choir will be singing this piece this semester! Cannot wait!
@christinsteglich6864
Fred Reindl Awesome! It is a classic in our choir, one of my favorites! But we sing it a little slower. Have fun!
@katebarton5548
wow
@dezgasting
I love the ending so much.
@unusue5982
My choir is performing this song this year, and wow it's pretty hard! But so worth it, it's so beautiful~
@-peyat
0:00 A section, Soprano (unison)
0:22 A section, S+A (all divisi)
0:45 B section, SATB (all divisi)
1:04 A section SATB (w/ some divisi in bass)
1:25 B section SATB (all divisi)
1:45 C section SATB (T+B divisi)
2:20 D section S+A (four part, divisi)
2:53 D section T+B (four part, divisi)
3:16 Cont. of D section, SATB (S divisi)
3:54 E section SATB (all divisi)
4:34 B section (variation) SATB (S+T divisi, A+B get a few notes of divisi near end)
5:10 B section SATB (all divisi)
5:34 finale, SSAATTBB
edit: i'm not sure about if i like the specifications with what parts are present and what parts get divisi, as most of the piece is nearly 8 part harmony.
@gracetyson5105
beautiful!
@Luca-gj9xn
You are very good and Gjeilo is a truly genius! My choir sang "The Rose" and "Days of Beauty" with new arrangements, both adapting for mixed choir, with male and female voices and making spectacular videos! We were able to reach the same Gjeilo who was thrilled. Write this in the search: you will surely like them!
Corale Novarmonia - Days of Beauty (O. Gjeilo) SATB Choir
Corale Novarmonia - The Rose (O. Gjeilo)
@susannestechow
Does the text be from medieval Times written by an old Poet or from our Times written by a modern author at the Tradition of such old Poems? At the description is to read "Anon". Who is Anon?
@Immediately_Immediately
9mo since your comment, but for posterity… the text comes from the Engelberg Manuscript (Engelberg 314), which came from the Benedictine monastery at Engelberg. As such it’s probably a Renaissance era text, though the exact author and date of composition is unknown