Here is a spiritual that will please your choir and the audience alike! This festival arrangement stresses the rhythms and asks you to express the dynamics to bring out the contrasts of this fun arrangement! Keen attention in the rehearsal work may be required but it is well worth it. For worship good high school and beyond. Duration: ca. 2:20.

Hail Gladdening Light was written at the request of Matthew Owens for the choir of Wells Cathedral and was first performed at Candlemas 2006. The composer has long been an admirer of the setting by Charles Wood and so wanted to create a work with a completely different atmosphere particularly focusing on mystical light. The opening and closing sections make use of the Gregorian Chant for Candlemas – a troped setting of the Nunc dimittis. Where these chanted sections occur they should be unconducted and sung with the freedom and tempo of plainsong. The emphasis throughout the whole piece should be on luminosity. This piece isfrom Faber's Choral Signature Series which introduces a wealth of new or recently written choral music to choirs in search of fresh repertoire. the series draws in a rich diversity of living composers and includes both lighter and more challenging contemporary works offering a thrilling array of varied styles.