Lux Æterna

I have been listening to Morten Lauridsen’s Lux Æterna for two decades. I asked for it for Christmas one year because my friend Kimberly—my partner in sharing all things beautiful—told me that when she listened to this for the first time, she had to sit alone with dimmed lights. I have listened to it often enough that I can anticipate certain lines. There is one tenor line that every time it comes up, I’m like Pavlov’s dog… always having the same heart leaping feeling when I hear it (on this link it starts at 20:23 with a lovely cello bass and ends at 20:57). I hope you find the beauty of the choral arrangement, the voices, and the words to be a balm to your spirit as it has been to mine..

The lyrics in Latin and English

Lamb of God

(you) who take away sins of world,

grant them rest.

grant them rest everlasting.

Light eternal shine upon them, Lord.

with Saints

Rest eternal grant to them, Lord;

and light perpetual let shine on them.

Alleluia. Amen.

[ɑlɛluiɑ ɑmɛn]