Magnus Graham’s setting of the late medieval text, When Christ was born of Mary free, was highly commended by the adjudicators at this year’s Sacred Music Young Composers’ Competition, led by Dame Judith Weir, Master of the King’s Music. Dame Judith commended Magnus’ contrasting setting of each verse as the listener is led through the familiar tropes of the shepherds’ story from Luke’s gospel into a final prayer asking the Lord to “grant us the bliss to see thy face where we may sing thy solace, ‘in excelsis gloria!’”
Magnus comments, “I chose a text from with which I was unfamiliar, and firstly focused on finding a rhythm which seemed to fit the text. The next step was a simple melody and chord progression in the key of E minor. I voiced this for SATB choir, creating variation between the different verses, using an organ accompaniment, a tenor soloist, and finally a descant ending with a Tierce de Picardy. My aim was to match these words from the middle ages with a musical setting that would combine a medieval feel with a contemporary sound.”
Born in the USA in 2007, Magnus began piano lessons at the age of eight. He moved to Scotland in 2018, where he attends George Watson’s College in Edinburgh and continues his study in piano and French Horn. He is a member of the Edinburgh Youth Orchestra, sings in several choirs and plays in instrumental groups.
The Society of St Gregory is making Magnus’ carol available to download and copy freely for Christmas 2024. You may download and reproduce copies of When Christ was born free of charge. Please then destroy copies. After 1 January 2025, copies must be ordered from the composer at magnusgrahamcomposer@gmail.com