O Gladsome Light (Phos Hilaron) [SSAATTBB]

The “Phos hilaron” (Hail, gladdening light) is an ancient Christian hymn originally written in Greek, and is the earliest known Christian hymn recorded outside the Bible that is still in use today. The hymn is a fixed part of Vespers (evening prayers) in the Orthodox Church, Byzantine Rite and the Catholic Church, and also included in some Anglican and Lutheran liturgies.

Dating to the 4th century A.D., a lamp was kept perpetually burning in the empty tomb of Christ, its glow a symbol of the living light of Jesus. As Christians gathered to worship the hymn was sung and, in a tradition known as “the lighting of the lamps”, a candle lit from the lamp was brought forth from the tomb, its bright, solitary flame calling the church to celebrate the Risen Lord.

This setting (particularly the opening phrase introduced in the tenors then repeated by the full choir) is based in part on the chant derived from the Valaam Monastery which combines features of Byzantine and Znamenny traditions. The choir then draws attention to each phrase of this prayer, imploring the listener to bring full attention to the measure and depth of the text through the gift of music.