Unlike most medieval cathedrals, throughout its thousand-year history Chartres has remained nearly unchanged.  Christian pilgrims from around the world visit Chartres, many of them to see the Sancta Camisa, thought by some to be the tunic worn by Mary at the birth of Jesus.

We have visited nearly 150 cathedrals and major churches on five continents, but none surpass the transcendent experience of standing in the nave of Chartres, bathed in the blue light of her ancient windows.  Little wonder that Christians – and many others – say they’ve experienced a unique sense of the divine at Chartres Cathedral.

For the text sung by the choir, I chose Rex tremendae majestatus from the Latin Mass (English translation King of tremendous majesty). I scored the piece for SATB chorus and boys’ choir; strings (24 violins, 8 violas, 8 cellos, 9 double bases;)  brass (6 French horns, 6 trumpets;) woodwinds (3 flutes, 3 clarinets, 2 oboes, 2 bassoons, 1 English horn)  and timpani.  A version of Rex tremendae majestatus also appears in my Requiem Mass (2021), 6th movement.

M.M. Ray and D. Ellicott Ray