Gabriel’s Message

SATB and soli quartet

I see this carol as a scene: Mary sits in the dark when light gently breaks in the room as the angel Gabriel reveals himself and slowly unfolds his wings (the opening phrase is meant to convey this). The rest of the piece is essentially a quiet waltz of profound, inner joy between the angel and the maiden. I decided to use the Basque in the first verse because it adds to the mysterious quality of the music.

Gabriel’s Message was commissioned by The Singers—Minnesota Choral Artists and received its premiere on December 3, 2005.  I owe a special debt of gratitude to Argitxu Camus of the Center for Basque Studies at the University of Nevada, Reno.

The Text

Basque Carol
English translation by Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)

*Birjina gaztettobat zegoen
Kreazale Jaonaren othoitzen,
Nouiz et’ aingurubat lehiatuki
Beitzen zelutik Jaitchi Mintzatzera haren.

*Translation of the Basque verse (from The New Oxford Book of Carols):  “A young maiden was worshipping the Lord of Creation when an angel descended precipitously from the heavens to speak with her.”

The angel Gabriel down from heaven came,
His wings as drifted snow, his eyes as flame.
“All hail,” said he, “Thou lowly maiden Mary,
Most highly favoured lady.”  Gloria!

“For known a blessed Mother thou shalt be,
All generations laud and honour thee,
Thy Son shall be Emmanuel, by seers foretold.
Most highly favoured lady.”  Gloria!

Then gentle Mary meekly bowed her head,
“To me be as it pleaseth God,” she said,
“My soul shall laud and magnify His Holy name.”
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria! 

Of her, Emmanuel, the Christ was born
In Bethlehem, all on a Christmas morn,
And Christian folk throughout the world will ever say: 
Most highly favoured lady, Gloria!

Performed by The Singers—Minnesota Choral Artists
(Dr. Matthew Culloton, conductor)