Composer's Note:
I set out to compose something for the Chamber Choir at Creighton University as a gift to the singers who have given so much to me. Our annual "Magic of Christmas" performance is held in St. John's Chapel on our campus, which has a lovely acoustic and makes for a beautiful performance venue, so I focused my attention on Christmas texts and came upon a hymn entitled, "Sun of Righteousness", which had a beautiful trio of verses. I intentionally avoided reading or listening to the music of the hymn, but extracted the poetry and have composed original music to this early-17th-Century lyric.
NOTE: Verses 1 and 2 are the original Austin text. Lines 3-6 of the final verse are paraphrased to create a more singable lyric, but the meaning of original text is unchanged. I also added brief "Hodie!" and "Gloria" responses to verses 1 and 2, harkening back to Renaissance tradition both in meter/tempo change and in form.
Rehearsal Notes:
The melodic content is shared among all voice parts throughout, so being aware of when each section has the main theme is important. Similiarly, creating dynamic space for primary melody and lyric is an important area of focus for singers and condcutors alike. The keyboard part is intended to be simultanously supportive and artistically independent, and players should play pianistically, paying special attention to left-hand dynamics lest they be too soft.
Text:
1 All this night bright angels sing, Never was such caroling, Hark! a voice which loudly cries, "Mortals, mortals, wake and rise. Lo! to gladness Turns your sadness: From the earth is ris'n a Sun, Shines all night tho' day be done."
"Hodie!" (meaning, 'this day')
2 Wake, O earth, wake every thing, Wake and hear the joy I bring: Wake and joy; for all this night, Heaven and every twinkling light, All amazing, Still stand gazing, Angels, powers and all that be, Wake, and joy this Sun to see.
"Gloria!" (an exultation of praise)
3 Hail! O Sun, O blessed Light, Sent into this world by night; Shine upon our darkened way, Turn our night to holy day. Bright and holy, Pure and lowly, God and Man, we do confess: Hail, O Sun of Righteousness!
William Austin (1587-1634)
