Oasis Chorale & Minerva Community Choir - "Hail Gladdening Light" - Wood

10,132 views • Nov 10, 2013

Description

Oasis Chorale and Minerva Community Choir performing "Hail Gladdening Light" - Charles Wood.  This is a piece from "Shout for Joy - A Choral Festival", which culminated the 10th anniversary reunion of Oasis Chorale.  The festival was held at Bethany Mennonite Church in Hartville, Ohio on August 11, 2013

The Historic Faith · Hymn Companion

Oasis Chorale & Minerva Community Choir

Words by Anonymous Greek; translated by John KebleMusic by Charles WoodWritten 3rd/4th century; translated 1834

Hail, gladdening Light, of his pure glory poured,
Who is the immortal Father, heavenly, blest,
Holiest of holies, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Now we are come to the sun's hour of rest;
The lights of evening round us shine;
We hymn the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit divine.

Worthiest art thou at all times to be sung
With undefiled tongue,
Son of our God, Giver of life, alone:
Therefore in all the world thy glories, Lord, they own.

Story Behind the Song

The text is the ancient Greek evening hymn Phos Hilaron, traditionally sung at the lighting of the lamps in Christian evening prayer. It is one of the earliest non-biblical Christian hymns still in regular liturgical use, and Basil the Great referred to it in the fourth century as an old and cherished hymn. John Keble made this English translation in the nineteenth century, and Charles Wood later provided the Anglican choral setting commonly titled Hail, Gladdening Light.

Scripture

Found In

Hymns Ancient and Modern, The English Hymnal, The New English Hymnal