Hail! Gladdening Light

Description

‘Phos Hilaron’ is the earliest known Christian hymn recorded outside of the Bible that is still in use today. Its English translation has received many notable musical settings, including that by Charles Wood (1866–1926), which is arguably definitive. My setting, however, seeks to emphasise the contemplative aspect of the Vespers service, which allows time at the end of the day for reflection. I begin, therefore, with the second stanza of the hymn, to establish the meditative atmosphere before building to the exclamation, ‘Hail! Gladdening Light’.