"O Magnum Mysterium" is a wonderful compilation of gorgeous choral works which will place any listener within the realms of a stony cathedral on a winter's eve.
The quiet, contemplative, and sometimes overwhelmingly emotional compositions are superbly complimentary to one another, and create a distinct, classic atmosphere.

If there would be one criticism of this CD, it would be the slightly out of place American Hymns and Spirituals section.
While also being remarkable testaments to the beauty of the combination of harmonic voices, their style and feeling is rather off when compared to the rest of the distinctly aged songs.
It does nothing to detract from the experience, in actuality, but I believe a better choice could have been made to have an even better flow in the CD.

Who can listen to this without being humbled, yet enriched, as if walking through the courts of sacred and simple places?

I'd swear that Robert Shaw must have visited heaven and come back to write his rendition of O Magnum Mysterium (particularly track #5 with the chamber singers). It's my favorite classical piece, especially among choral works. I'd love to be in a great gothic cathedral like Notre Dame or Cologne and hear this piece. Even though you'll likely only be hearing this recording through your headphones in your room, it'll take you to the cathedrals and heaven itself.

I read somewhere that Robert Shaw was deeply religious/spiritual. I have no reason to doubt this...his faith shines through on this disk. I couldn't recommend it highly enough.

"Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth; for the first heaven and the first earth had passed away, and the sea was no more. And I saw the holy city, new Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God, prepared as a bride adorned for her husband; and I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, "Behold, the dwelling of God is with men. He will dwell with them, and they shall be his people, and God himself will be with them; he will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning nor crying nor pain any more, for the former things have passed away." - Revelation 21

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