Magnum

Morten Lauridsen's arrangement of this storied hymn is a modern classic that stands as a testament of the composer's faith.

It is thus “the most important note in the piece”; it “shines a sonic spotlight on the meaning of that word.” I want to weep when I see it.” He later learned that the three images in the painting—lemons, oranges, and a rose beside a cup of water—are all Baroque symbols of the Virgin Mary. But what Lauridsen especially wrestled with was the significance of the Virgin Mary. It began with a painting: Zurbarán’s “Still Life with Lemons, Oranges and a Rose” in the Norton Simon Museum. He wanted the setting to be both direct and profound, both historically rooted and religiously informed. In a video online, he explains the surprising inspiration behind the song and its structure.