The first time I walked into the church of St. Eustache in Les Halles, Paris I was rather overwhelmed, to put it mildly. I started hearing high voices in my head, wildly crying some plaintive, desperate yet piercingly sweet music. When I tried to write it down, this Magnificat came out. The architectural space seemed to act on me to produce this music.

The words to the Magnificat are Mary's hymn of praise upon discovering she was to bear the son of God.

My soul doth magnify the lord
And my spirit hath rejoiced in God my saviour
For He hath regarded the lowliness of  His handmaiden.
From henceforth all generations shall call me blessed.
For He that is mighty hath magnified me
And Holy is his name.
His mercy is on them that fear Him
throughout all generations.
He hath showed strength with his arm.
He hath scattered the proud in the imagination of their hearts.
He hath put down the mighty from their seat,
And hath exalted the humble and meek.
He hath filled the hungry with good things,
And the rich He hath sent empty away.
He remembering his mercy hath holpen his servant Israel
As he promised to our forefathers
Abraham and his seed forever.
(Even as he promised unto our forefathers
To Abraham and his children from generation to generation)

Glory be to the Father, and to the Son, and to the Holy Ghost,
As it was in the beginning, is now and forever. Amen.

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