'O Nata Lux'

This Sunday, February 14, the Saint Philip’s Singers will offer a favorite motet, Thomas Tallis’ setting of O nata lux de lumine (1575). “Motet” seems a generous word for this modest, yet hauntingly beautiful, homophonic piece, which sets the first two verses of a much longer hymn for Lauds on the feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord. By “homophonic,” we simply mean that the music is comprised of chordal structures, with a definable melody coming to the fore. A lovely performance of this hymn by the Gesualdo Six, incorporating a trumpet on that melody, is included below. Although the original 10th-century text is in Latin, you can read an English translation below.

Justin Appel, Director of Music

—-

O nata lux de lumine,

Jesu redemptor saeculi,

Dignare clemens supplicum

Laudes precesque sumere.

Qui carne quondam contegi

Dignatus es pro perditis,

Nos membra confer effici

Tui beati corporis.

O light born of light,

Jesus redeemer of the world,

Deign mercifully to accept

The praises and prayers of your supplicants.

Who stooped to take on flesh

For the sake of the lost,

Grant us to become members

Of your blessed body.